WHOSE IS THE KINGDOM TODAY?

When the Samanid ruler, Nasr bin Ahmad ( 301 - 331 A.H), entered Nishapur, he held a court. After ascending the throne, he wanted the proceedings to be started with the recitation from the Holy Qur'an. At this an elderly pious man came forward and recited a section of the Surah Al- Mu'min. When he came to the verse (On that Day it will be asked:) "...Whose is the Kingdom today?" (40:16)

Nasr was struck with awe; he descended the throne trembling, took off the crown and fell down in prostration, saying: "O my Lord, Kingdom is Yours, not mine!"
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The Holy Quran, in Surah Al-Mu'min:
The Day when they will come out, nothing of them will be hidden from Allah.
(it will be asked) Whose is the Kingdom today? It is Allah's, the One, the Mighty!
Today everyone will be recompensed for what he earned. There is no injustice today.
Truly, Allah is swift in reckoning. (40:16-17):

Tafsir:
According to a hadith reported by Abu Wa'il from Sayyidna Abdulluh Ibn Mas'ud, all human beings will be assembled together on a clear surface, a surface on which no sin would have been committed by anyone. At that time, a bearer of news will be commanded to ask: “To whom belongs the Kingdom today?” Thereupon, the entire creation, believer or disbeliever, will respond saying: “To Allah alone, the One, the All Dominant.”
As for the believers, they will be more than pleased to say so, for this would be part of their belief. As for the disbelievers, they will confess to it sadly and helplessly.

And some other narrations (ahadith) also show that Allah Taala will make this statement when the entire creation will be destroyed after the blowing of the first Horn, and when even specially close ones, the angels (Jibrael, Mikael, Israfeel and the angel of death Izrael) will also meet death, and no one except the One Being of Allah Subhanahu wa Taala will remain, that will be the time He will say: “To whom belongs the Kingdom today?” Since there will be no one to answer at that time, He will Himself answer: “To Allah alone, the One, the All-Dominant.”

It is supported by the Hadith of Sayyidna Abu Hurairah and Ibn Umar (RA) in which it is said, “On the Day of Judgment, Allah Taala will with all earth surfaces rolled up in His left hand and all heavens rolled up in His right hand will say: “I am the owner of the kingdom. Where are the tyrants? Where are the arrogant?”

(Tafsir Maariful Quran, Vol 8)
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