Quranic theme
Lord
الرب
51 verses
When told to dedicate himself to God, Abraham answers immediately: "I devote myself to the Lord of the Universe" (2:131). The Quranic concept of the Lord (al-Rabb) merges absolute cosmic authority with immediate personal care. He is the All Knowing Creator (15:86) who holds absolute power, yet He remains the primary addressee of the most intimate human supplications.
Who is the Lord of the Universe?
The Quran defines the Lord through His complete sovereignty over existence. Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani notes that al-Rabb inherently carries the meaning of the Master (al-Sayyid) and the Guardian or Protector (al-Mawla) (Daraj al-Durar fi Tafsir al-Ay wa al-Suwar, 1/84). The text insists that "This is God, your Lord, there is no God but Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him; He is in charge of everything" (6:102).
This supreme authority is a recurring reality recognized by the prophets, who point their people toward it. The Lord of Moses and Aaron (7:122) is the same entity worshipped by earlier and later generations. A prophet tells his followers, "God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him- that is a straight path" (3:51). The title demands exclusive worship because only the Lord possesses the power to create, manage, and sustain the world.
How do the prophets speak to their Lord?
The linguistic root of al-Rabb ties closely to the concept of nurturing and raising (tarbiya), as al-Wahidi observes (Al-Tafsir al-Basit, 1/485). This nurturing aspect manifests in how the prophets address God in moments of vulnerability. Zachariah turns specifically to his Lord to request virtuous offspring from His grace, knowing well that "You hear every prayer" (3:38). Another prayer for future generations to uphold worship similarly appeals to this relationship: "Lord, grant that I and my offspring may keep up the prayer. Our Lord, accept my request" (14:40).
Joseph acknowledges this active, guiding presence in his own life. Looking back on how he was saved and elevated, he prays: "My Lord! You have given me authority; You have taught me something about the interpretation of dreams." He recognizes his Lord as the Creator and his protector in both this world and the Hereafter, asking simply to die in true devotion and be joined with the righteous (12:101).
What does the Lord promise?
Because the Lord oversees His creation, He sets the terms of mercy and the final outcomes of history. For those who do wrong out of ignorance but afterward repent and make amends, "your Lord is most forgiving and merciful" (16:119). His leniency provides a path back for those who stumble.
At the same time, His decrees regarding the physical world and the end of time are absolute. A ruler constructing a massive iron barrier views his success not as personal triumph, but declares, "This is a mercy from my Lord." He then warns that when his Lord's promise is fulfilled, the barrier will be razed to the ground, because "my Lord's promise always comes true" (18:98). Upon seeing His promises realized, the righteous respond with praise, declaring, "Glory to our Lord! Our Lord's promise has been fulfilled" (17:108).
Acknowledging God as Lord requires recognizing His absolute dominion over every living thing. Faced with earthly challenges, a believer places full confidence in this reality, stating, "I put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no moving creature which He does not control. My Lord's way is straight" (11:56).
Verses
Page 1 of 2 — 51 verses in all.
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
His Lord said to him, ‘Devote yourself to Me.’ Abraham replied, ‘I devote myself to the Lord of the Universe,’
هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ
There and then Zachariah prayed to his Lord, saying, ‘Lord, from Your grace grant me virtuous offspring: You hear every prayer.’
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۗ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him- that is a straight path.”’
ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
This is God, your Lord, there is no God but Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him; He is in charge of everything.
رَبِّ مُوسَىٰ وَهَـٰرُونَ
the Lord of Moses and Aaron!’
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
I put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no moving creature which He does not control. My Lord’s way is straight.
۞ رَبِّ قَدْ ءَاتَيْتَنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُلْكِ وَعَلَّمْتَنِى مِن تَأْوِيلِ ٱلْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَنتَ وَلِىِّۦ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِى مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِى بِٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
My Lord! You have given me authority; You have taught me something about the interpretation of dreams; Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Let me die in true devotion to You. Join me with the righteous.’
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
Lord, grant that I and my offspring may keep up the prayer. Our Lord, accept my request.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Your Lord is the All Knowing Creator.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوٓا۟ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
But towards those who do wrong out of ignorance, and afterwards repent and make amends, your Lord is most forgiving and merciful.
وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّنَآ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا
and say, “Glory to our Lord! Our Lord’s promise has been fulfilled.”
قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّا
and he said, ‘This is a mercy from my Lord. But when my Lord’s promise is fulfilled, He will raze this barrier to the ground: my Lord’s promise always comes true.’
إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ نِدَآءً خَفِيًّا
when he called to his Lord secretly, saying,
وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
‘God is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him: that is a straight path.’
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّى وَلَا يَنسَى
Moses said, ‘My Lord alone has knowledge of them, all in a record; my Lord does not err or forget.’
قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
He said, ‘Listen! Your true Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, He who created them, and I am a witness to this.
وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ
Remember Zachariah, when he cried to his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me childless, though You are the best of heirs.’
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ
who believe in His messages,
قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Moses said, ‘He is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.’
قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
exclaiming, ‘We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,
سَلَـٰمٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ
“Peace,” a word from the Lord of Mercy.
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ
Lord of the heavens and earth and everything between them, Lord of every sunrise.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
Lord, grant me a righteous son,’
سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Your Lord, the Lord of Glory, is far above what they attribute to Him.
وَتَرَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ حَآفِّينَ مِنْ حَوْلِ ٱلْعَرْشِ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْحَقِّ وَقِيلَ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
You [Prophet] will see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. True judgement will have been passed between them, and it will be said, ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds.’
وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم مِّن كُلِّ مُتَكَبِّرٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِيَوْمِ ٱلْحِسَابِ
Moses said, ‘I seek refuge with my Lord and yours from every tyrant who refuses to believe in the Day of Reckoning.’
ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Such is God your Lord, the Creator of all things: there is no god but Him. How can you be so deluded?
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
God is my Lord and your Lord. Serve Him: this is the straight path.’
وَإِنِّى عُذْتُ بِرَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ أَن تَرْجُمُونِ
I seek refuge in my Lord and yours against your insults!
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْحَمْدُ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَرَبِّ ٱلْأَرْضِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
So praise be to God, Lord of the heavens and earth, Lord of the worlds.
فَـٰكِهِينَ بِمَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَوَقَىٰهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
rejoicing in their Lord’s gifts: He has saved them from the torment of the Blaze,
فَذَكِّرْ فَمَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَتِ رَبِّكَ بِكَاهِنٍ وَلَا مَجْنُونٍ
So [Prophet] remind [people]. By the grace of your Lord [Prophet], you are neither oracle nor madman.
وَأَنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ
that the final goal is your Lord;
رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
He is Lord of the two risings and Lord of the two settings.
تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
sent down from the Lord of all being.
رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Lord, do not expose us to mistreatment [at the hands of] the disbelievers. Forgive us, Lord, for You are the Almighty, the All Wise.’
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ
from God, the Lord of the Ways of Ascent,
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
Proclaim the greatness of your Lord;
وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصْبِرْ
be steadfast in your Lord’s cause.
وَمَا يَذْكُرُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ هُوَ أَهْلُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ ٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ
they will only take heed if God so wishes. He is the Lord who should be heeded, the Lord of forgiveness.
إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ
looking towards their Lord,
وَٱذْكُرِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
remember the name of your Lord at dawn and in the evening;
فَٱلْمُدَبِّرَٰتِ أَمْرًا
to bring the matter to an end,
بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًا
indeed he will! His Lord was watching him.
ذُو ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْمَجِيدُ
The Glorious Lord of the Throne,
سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى
[Prophet], glorify the name of your Lord the Most High,
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
talk about the blessings of your Lord.
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
Read! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One
إِنَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ٱلرُّجْعَىٰٓ
[Prophet], all will return to your Lord.
فَلْيَعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَيْتِ
So let them worship the Lord of this House: