in his Sahīh from Ikrimah and others: “When you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they say, ‘Allah,’ yet despite this they worship others besides Him.” He has told us this about them in His words:

“If you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely say, ‘Allah.’”

And in His words:

“Say, ‘To whom belong the earth and whoever is in it, if you know?’ {84} They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then take heed?’ {85} Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?’ {86} They will say, ‘[They belong] to Allah.’ Say, ‘Will you not then fear Him?’ {87} Say, ‘In whose hand is the dominion of all things, who grants protection while none can grant protection against Him, if you know?’ {88} They will say, ‘[It belongs] to Allah.’ Say, ‘How, then, are you deluded?’ {89} Rather, We have brought them the truth, and they are certainly liars. {90} Allah has never taken any offspring, nor has there ever been any deity alongside Him. Had there been, each deity would have taken away what it created, and some would have overpowered others. Glory be to Allah, far above what they ascribe to Him! {91} Knower of the unseen and the seen, exalted is He above what they associate with Him! {92}” [The Believers 84–92]

Thus, He tells us about these people—whose association of partners with Him He declares Himself far above, whom He declares to be liars in turning away from the truth He has brought, and whom He refutes by saying, “Allah has never taken any offspring, nor has there ever been any deity alongside Him”—that when He asks them, “To whom belong the earth and whoever is in it?” they will say, “To Allah.” When you ask them, “Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?” {86} they will say, “[They belong] to Allah.” And when you ask them, “In whose hand is the dominion of all things, who grants protection while none can grant protection against Him, if you know?” {88} they will say, “[It belongs] to Allah.”

The first is their acknowledgment that the earth and everything in it belong to Allah. The second is their acknowledgment that the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne belong to Allah.