What is the meaning of the verse, "And He is the God in the heavens and the God in the earth"?

The questioner: What is the meaning of the verse ?

The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.
The questioner: What else...

The Shaykh :"Ilah" means the one who is worshipped. An ilah is the one who is worshipped, so He is worshipped in the heavens and worshipped in the earth. There is nothing else in the verse; He is worshipped in the heavens and worshipped. Yes?
The questioner: ... the heavens and the earth

The Shaykh : The God of the heavens and the God of the earth.
The questioner: ...

The Shaykh : He is the Lord of the heavens. The term "Lord" (Rabb) must be mentioned, and its meaning is different from "Ilah." The Rabb is the Creator and the Nurturer, whereas the Ilah is the one who is worshipped in truth. Therefore, not everyone who believes in Allah as Lord believes in Him as Ilah. This is also one of the things people are unaware of. If a disbeliever or a kafir were to say, "I believe that there is no Lord but Allah", he would not become a Muslim. Rather, he must say, "I believe that there is no Ilah but Allah". Why? Because the meaning of "no Ilah" is lighter than the meaning of "no Lord". The polytheists to whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent, and to whom he called them to what he called them to, namely that there is no Ilah but Allah, disbelieved. Allah the Exalted said, But in the other verse, So they were not denying the existence of Allah. They believed that this universe has a Lord and a Creator, but they did not believe that worship must be directed to this Lord alone. Thus, "There is no Ilah but Allah" is far higher than if someone were to say, "There is no Lord but Allah". "There is no Lord but Allah" means there is no Creator but Allah. The polytheist used to say, "There is no Creator but Allah," as explicitly stated in the Qur'an. Would he not have been a disbeliever? Because he worshipped others besides Allah along with Allah, making them partners with Him in worship.