إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌۢ 11
Translations
Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Aware.
Transliteration
Inna rabbahum bihim yawmaidhin la-khabir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is fully aware of all the deeds and intentions of His servants on the Day of Judgment. Ibn Kathir explains that 'khabir' (All-Knowing) emphasizes Allah's complete knowledge of both the apparent and hidden aspects of human actions, leaving nothing concealed from His divine awareness. Al-Qurtubi notes this serves as a powerful warning that no deed, however secret, will escape Allah's knowledge on the Day of Reckoning.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes Surah Al-'Adiyat, which was revealed in Mecca and addresses human ingratitude and heedlessness toward divine signs. The surah builds from the oath of the swift horses to a stark reminder that despite humanity's preoccupation with worldly pursuits and material accumulation, Allah remains fully cognizant of every action, preparing the foundation for accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3194) from Abu Hurairah reports the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: 'The most honest word a poet has spoken is the verse of Labid: Indeed, everything besides Allah is false.' This relates thematically to the surah's message about the ephemeral nature of worldly concerns against divine omniscience. Additionally, the hadith on the Pen (Qalam) in Tirmidhi emphasizes that Allah has written down all deeds before they occur.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no action, thought, or intention escapes Allah's awareness, encouraging sincere conduct and mindfulness of God in all affairs. It provides comfort to the righteous while serving as a solemn warning to those who transgress, motivating ethical living rooted in the awareness of divine scrutiny rather than mere social observation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.
يَوْمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ
The Day they come forth nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allāh. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth - that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] -
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allāh sees?