He Is God in the Heaven and God on Earth — Cosmic Monotheism
tadabbur
Level: intermediate
tawhid
td-382
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِ إِلَٰهٌ وَفِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَٰهٌ
— الزخرف 84
Verse: "And He is God in the heaven and God on earth." (43:84) — One comprehensive lordship of heavens and earth. No separate God for sky and earth — no multiplicity or division in divinity. This refutes every philosophy that assigns separate gods to heaven and earth. Lesson: whoever believes in Allah as only the God of heaven has not fully believed in monotheism — His divinity over earth includes worship, transactions, and rulings.
Source: Ibn Kathir (7/234); Al-Sadi
Question: Why does the Quran mention that Allah is "God in heaven and God on earth" rather than just one?
Answer: To refute those who might believe in God only for the sky — complete monotheism includes His divinity over earth: worship, rulings, and transactions.