قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 52
Translations
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."
Transliteration
Qul kafaa billahi bayni wa baynakum shahidan. Ya'lamu ma fi as-samawati wa al-ard. Wa alladhina amanu bil-batili wa kafaru billahi ula'ika hum al-khasiroon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that Allah alone suffices as a witness between him and his opponents, for Allah knows all that is in the heavens and earth, including the hidden secrets and true intentions of all people. The ayah condemns those who believe in falsehood while rejecting Allah's truth, declaring them to be the true losers in both this world and the Hereafter, as they have exchanged guidance for misguidance. Ibn Kathir notes this ayah powerfully establishes Allah's omniscience as the ultimate arbiter in disputes between the believers and disbelievers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-'Ankabut, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Prophet and their mockery of the believers. It was revealed during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense opposition, providing consolation that Allah's knowledge and justice transcend human perception and earthly conflicts.
Related Hadiths
The concept of Allah as witness relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'The best witnesses are Allah, then the angels.' Additionally, this theme connects to the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about Allah's comprehensive knowledge: 'Verily, Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing opposition or injustice from others, a believer should place complete trust in Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and justice rather than being troubled by human judgment or denial. This ayah teaches that ultimate success lies in accepting truth and believing in Allah, while the greatest loss is the rejection of divine guidance, regardless of worldly appearances.
Related Ayahs
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ أَجْرَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave to him Isaac and Jacob and placed in his descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allāh, he considers the trial [i.e., harm] of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allāh. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allāh most knowing of what is within the breasts of the worlds [i.e., all creatures]?
أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَىٰ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And is it not sufficient for them that We revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] which is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and reminder for a people who believe.
ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Who have been patient and upon their Lord rely.