Quran Universe
55:26

كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا فَانٖ

Kullu man AAalayha fanin

Everyone upon the earth will perish,

Word by word
  1. كُلُّEveryone
  2. مَنۡwho
  3. عَلَيۡهَا(is) on it
  4. فَانٖ(will) perish
Ar-Rahman · 55:26Madinah

Everyone on the earth will pass away.

After all the favors, a reminder that they end

Everything just listed
people, jinn
seas, ships, fruit
all
will perish
How to read it
stop at the endeverything dies
keep readingHis Face remains

Qatadah said Allah first mentioned His creatures, then said all of this will perish. Ash-Sha'bi advised that when you recite this verse, do not stop there, continue to the next one about what remains.

You are at a funeral, or scrolling past news of someone your age who died. For a moment everything feels pointless. Do not stop at that thought. The next verse is already waiting.

If everything ends, nothing really matters.

Everything passes so that I hold on to the One who does not.

Try this

Make a short dua today for someone who has passed away.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish (26)And the Face of your Lord Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram will remain forever (27)Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny (28)Whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth begs of Him. Every day He is (engaged) in some affair (29)Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny (30)

Allah is the Ever Living, Free of all Need

Allah states that all the residents of earth will perish and die. The residents of the heavens will die, except whomever Allah wills. Only Allah's Honorable Face will remain, because our Lord, the Exalted, the Blessed, is the Ever Living Who never dies. Qatadah said, "First, Allah mentioned His creatures and then He said that all of this will perish." And in the reported supplication: 'O You the Ever Living Who sustains all that exists! O You Who created the heavens and the earth without precedence. O You, Who Owns the glory and the honor, none has the right to be worshipped except You. We seek refuge with Your mercy. Grant Us success in all of our matters. Please, do not abandon us to rely on ourselves even for an instant nor on any of Your creation." Ash-Sha'bi said, "When you have recited,

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ

(Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish.) do not stop, continue reading,

وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

(And the Face of your Lord Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram will remain forever.)" This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement,

كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ ۚ 

(Everything will perish save His Face.)(28:88) In this Ayah, Allah describes His Noble Face as being Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, indicating that He is Worthy of being revered, and thus, never defied; and obeyed, and thus, never disobeyed,

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ 

(And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face.)(18:28), And as He said about those giving charity:

إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ

(We feed you seeking Allah's Face only.)(76:9) Ibn 'Abbas commented on the meaning of Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, by saying, "Owner of greatness and pride."

After Allah stated that all of the inhabitants of the earth will die and end up in the Hereafter when He, Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, will judge them by His fair judgement, He said,

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 

(Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?) Allah said,

يَسْأَلُهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ

(Whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth begs of Him. Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.) In this Ayah, Allah affirms that He is Rich, Free of all wants for anyone else and that all creatures stand in need of Him, in all conditions and situations. They all seek His help willingly or unwillingly. Everyday, He is engaged in some affair. Al-A'mash reported from Mujahid, from 'Ubayd bin 'Umayr,

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ

(Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.) He said, "Of His affairs is that He answers the supplicant, or gives to the one requesting, or removing adversity, or cures the one seeking to be cured."