۞ وَلَهُۥ مَا سَكَنَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 13
Translations
And to Him belongs that which reposes by night and by day, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa lahū mā sakana fī al-layli wa-al-nahāri wa-huwa al-samīʿu al-ʿalīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that everything that dwells or rests during the night and day belongs to Allah alone, emphasizing His complete dominion over all creation at all times. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir interpret 'what dwells' (mā sakana) to refer to all creatures and beings that find rest and shelter, whether animals seeking refuge or people in their homes, reinforcing that all existence is under Allah's sovereignty. The ayah concludes by highlighting two divine attributes—Al-Samīʿ (The All-Hearing) and Al-ʿAlīm (The All-Knowing)—which assure us that Allah is fully aware of all creatures and their conditions at every moment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter that comprehensively addresses tawhīd (monotheism) and refutes polytheism. It comes within a passage establishing Allah's absolute ownership and authority over creation, serving to strengthen the believers' conviction in Allah's singular lordship against the backdrop of Meccan polytheistic practices.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ emphasizing divine knowledge and hearing: 'Allah hears the supplication of every supplicant and knows the hidden things' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about Allah's knowledge encompassing all things: 'Indeed, Allah knows everything that will happen before it happens.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no creature or moment escapes Allah's awareness and dominion, providing comfort in knowing that our circumstances are fully known to the All-Hearing, All-Knowing Lord. It should inspire us to maintain consciousness of Allah (taqwā) throughout day and night, recognizing that all our actions and conditions are witnessed by Him.
Related Ayahs
لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death. [He is] your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers.
وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَهُۥ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا
[Gabriel said], "And we [angels] descend not except by the order of your Lord. To Him belongs that before us and that behind us and what is in between. And never is your Lord forgetful -
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَرِثُ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَيْنَا يُرْجَعُونَ
Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned.
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.