۞ 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
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَقَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ إِذَا ضَرَبُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانُوا۟ غُزًّى لَّوْ كَانُوا۟ عِندَنَا مَا مَاتُوا۟ وَمَا قُتِلُوا۟ لِيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ حَسْرَةً فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
O you who have believed, do not be like those who disbelieved and said about their brothers when they traveled through the land or went out to fight, "If they had been with us, they would not have died or have been killed," so Allāh makes that [misconception] a regret within their hearts. And it is Allāh who gives life and causes death, and Allāh is Seeing of what you do.
قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ ٱللَّهُ إِن شَآءَ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
He said, "Allāh will only bring it to you if He wills, and you will not cause [Him] failure.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا
Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Aware and Seeing.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.