عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ 5
Translations
Taught man that which he knew not.
Transliteration
Allama al-insana ma lam ya'lam
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah means 'He taught man that which he knew not,' referring to Allah's gift of knowledge and intellect to humanity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as emphasizing Allah's grace in endowing humans with the capacity to learn, reason, and acquire knowledge through revelation and observation. This verse highlights the divine origin of human knowledge and the intellect as a blessing from the Almighty.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-'Alaq, the first revealed chapter of the Qur'an, sent down during the initial revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Cave of Hira. It establishes a foundational theme of the surah: the relationship between creation, knowledge, and divine guidance, emphasizing that learning and intellectual development are central to human purpose.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, 'Allah will ease the path to Paradise for whoever treads a path in search of knowledge' (Sahih Muslim 2699).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that knowledge is a divine gift and responsibility; we should approach learning with gratitude and humility, recognizing that all understanding ultimately comes from Allah. It also emphasizes the Islamic obligation to seek knowledge and use our intellect wisely for personal and societal development.