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
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
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] -
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا۟ أَمَدًا
Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.