Tafsir of Al-Kahf 18:44

هنالك الوﻻية لله الحق

to help him against Allah, nor could he defend himself. There, Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God. Here there are differences in recitation. Some of the reciters pause at the word there,

وما كان منتصرا

هنالك

(nor could he defend himself there), i.e., at that time, when Allah sends the punishment upon him, there will be no one to save him. Then they start the next phrase with Al-Walayah;

(Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God). Some of them pause at the phrase

وما كان منتصرا

(nor could he defend himself) and start the next phrase;

هنالك

الوﻻية لله الحق

(There, Al-Walayah will be for Allah, the True God). There is a further difference in the recitation of the word Al-Walayah. Some read it as Al-Walayah, which gives the meaning that all allegiance will be to Allah, i.e., on that Day everyone, believer or disbeliever, will return to Allah, for allegiance and submission to Him when the punishment comes to pass. This is like the Ayah:

فلما رأوا بٲسنا قالوا ءامنا بالله وحده وكفرنا بما كنا به مشركين

So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as partners.'' (40:84) and Allah says concerning the Fir`awn;

وجاوزنا ببنى إسرءيل البحر فٲتبعهم فرعون وجنوده بغيا وعدوا حتى إذآ أدركه الغرق قال ءامنت أنه ﻻ إله إﻻ الذى ءامنت به بنوا إسرءيل وأنا من المسلمين

ءالن وقد عصيت قبل وكنت من المفسدين

Till when drowning overtook him, he said: "I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims.'' Now! While you refused to believe before and you were one of the mischief-makers. (10:90-91) Some others read it as Al-Wilayah, meaning that on that Day the rule will belong to Allah, the True God. Some read Haqqu (True) referring to Al-Wilayah, as in the Ayah;

الملك يوميذ الحق للرحمن وكان يوما على الكفرين عسيرا

The sovereignty on that Day will be the true (sovereignty), belonging to the Most Gracious (Allah), and it will be a hard Day for the disbelievers. (25:26) Others it read Haqqi referring to Allah, may He be glorified, as in the Ayah:

ثم ردوا إلى الله مولهم الحق

Then they are returned to Allah, their True Protector. (6:62) So Allah says:

هو خير ثوابا وخير عقبا

He (Allah) is the best to reward and the best for the final end for deeds that were done for the sake of Allah, their reward is good and their consequences are all good