God is the King. He needs no one, but everything and everyone depends on Him. If He does not will something to happen, it will not happen. No one can challenge His authority in His kingdom.
This means that no one can question Him, saying: “Why did You do this?” or “Why didn’t You do that?” He is the ultimate ruler, governing His creation without oversight or supervision. His will is absolute, and His wisdom is beyond human understanding.
“God is the One who is not in need of anyone else, neither in Himself nor in His attributes, while everything else is in need of Him.
The existence of humans relies on the existence of God, and the conditions of human life are sustained by God. God is the Absolute King, for He is not in need of others, while humans do not possess absolute sovereignty. We are all in need of Him and are poor before Him.”
No one disputes with Him over His kingdom, and no one can oppose Him. He is the One who controls and manages His kingdom without opposition. No one can overturn His orders or His judgments. Everything belongs to Him completely. In contrast, human kings can face various kinds of opposition regarding their decisions, political and managerial vision, or even the legitimacy of their existence.
God says:
“Glory be to the One in whose hand is the dominion of all things, and to Him you will be returned.”
This verse highlights the absolute sovereignty and control of Allah (God) over all creation. The phrase “Glory be to the One” (Subhana) emphasizes Allah’s perfection and transcendence, signifying that He is beyond any imperfection or need. The verse further asserts that Allah holds the “dominion of all things”, meaning everything in the universe — from the heavens and the earth to all living beings and inanimate objects — is under His control and authority.
People
The king of the worshipers is the one who is owned only by God. He is in need of no one except God. His heart is his kingdom.
The true king on this earth is the one who controls his desires and recognizes that he needs no one except God. When a person reaches the deep realization that only God is necessary in his life, he attains true kingship.
Since God is the one who controls everything, the person who is solely concerned with what God thinks of him—striving to draw closer to Him—becomes free from the need for validation from others. He is not here to please people; he is here to seek nearness to God. That is what makes him a true king.
As for a person, when he interacts with others, he does not treat them based on what they have or lack. Instead, he treats them as humans, affirming their humanity. This perspective grants a vision where all people are seen as equal, deserving of the same respect and dignity. He does not measure others by wealth, position, or authority—his perception is rooted in what God has given him.
He is the one who controls his desires, his anger, his tongue, his eyes, and all his actions. When he masters them, he is the true king. But if they control him, then he is not. True kingship is about having authority over oneself—if he governs himself with discipline and faith, he is a king. But if he lacks that authority, he is not a king. The best example of this is the prophets, followed by the scholars.
He is the king of kings
Even when God spoke about the kingdom of kings in the Quran, He stated that He is the one who grants a kingdom to whom He wills and takes it away from whom He wills. Therefore, being a king in God’s kingdom on this earth is only by His permission; without His consent, no one can hold such a position.
All kings are under God’s supervision, for He is the King of Kings, and before Him, they are merely ordinary people. Their positions are a test, just as every one of us faces different trials in life. Even our aunts have their own tests to endure.
God’s knowledge is unlimited.
Human kings cannot control every detail of a person’s life, whereas God knows everything about His creation. If someone were to go home and close the door behind them, no one would know what they are doing—but God does.
Therefore, God has ultimate authority and knowledge over human lives. While earthly kings may have some degree of power and insight, their knowledge is limited. They do not know everything that happens within their kingdoms, whereas God is fully aware of everything in His.
This is the fundamental difference between God as the true King and human rulers.
God does not need anyone
God does not need anyone, but we need Him. He is the Creator of the universe, and everything belongs to Him. This is why we call Him the Owner and the King.
We do not rely on human kings in our daily lives, but we need God at every step. A human king depends on others—he needs people to serve him, a state to rule, a land to govern, an army to protect him, and a kingdom to inherit.
But God needs nothing. He is entirely self-sufficient. He creates, while human rulers merely inherit their kingdoms from those before them. In the end, they are just human beings.
Al-Ghazālī said that we can be true kings when we recognize that we belong only to God.[1] We are His worshipers, and our strength lies in relying on Him. True power comes from knowing that He alone controls every aspect of our lives, that He alone can help us, and that He alone can increase or decrease what we seek—both in this life and the afterlife.
The human kings are in need
No human can truly embody the full meaning of kingship because all people depend on others in some way. A person cannot be a king unless they are treated with respect, gratitude, and submission—through words, actions, and acknowledgment.
But God does not need any of this. He has made it clear that He is completely self-sufficient. Our worship does not benefit Him; rather, we are the ones who benefit from worshiping Him.
Can we be kings?
The true king on this earth is the one who controls his desires and recognizes that he needs no one except God. When a person reaches the deep realization that only God is necessary in his life, he attains true kingship.
Since God is the one who controls everything, the person who is solely concerned with what God thinks of him—striving to draw closer to Him—becomes free from the need for validation from others. He is not here to please people; he is here to seek nearness to God. That is what makes him a true king.
