It is established in the two Sahīh collections, in a hadith narrated by Ibn Mas‘ūd, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse when some Jews told him that Allah holds the heavens on one finger, the earths on one finger, the mountains on one finger, the trees and soil on one finger, and the rest of creation on one finger. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) laughed in amazement and in affirmation of the rabbi’s statement, and recited this verse.

Ibn ‘Abbās reported:

“A Jewish man passed by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: ‘O Abū al-Qāsim, what do you say when Allah places heaven on this one, the earth on this one, the mountains and water on this one, and the rest of creation on this one?’

“Then Allah Most High revealed:

‘They have not esteemed Allah as He deserves, though the entire earth will be in His grasp on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand.’”

This was narrated by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and al-Tirmidhī through Abū al-Duhā, from Ibn ‘Abbās. Al-Tirmidhī classified it as singular, good, and authentic.

This implies that His greatness exceeds what that rabbi described, for the verse conveys it more emphatically. Thus, in the two Sahīh collections, Abū Hurayrah reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah will grasp the earth on the Day of Resurrection and roll up heaven in His right hand. Then He will say: ‘I am the King! Where are the kings of the earth?’”

Also in the two Sahīh collections, Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah will roll up the heavens on the Day of Resurrection, then take them in His right hand. Then He will say: ‘Where are the kings? Where are the tyrants?