فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ ۖ وَمَا كُنَّا غَآئِبِينَ 7
Translations
Then We will surely relate [their deeds] to them with knowledge, and We were not [at all] absent.
Transliteration
Fa-lanaqqusanna 'alayhim bi-'ilm wa mā kunnā ghā'ibīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah affirms that He will recount to the people on the Day of Judgment the details of their deeds with complete knowledge, for nothing is hidden from Him. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this ayah emphasizes Allah's perfect awareness of all human actions throughout history, and His ability to present irrefutable evidence of these deeds. The phrase 'we were not absent' stresses that Allah's knowledge encompasses everything that occurred, as He is Ever-Present and All-Knowing.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf, a Meccan surah that extensively discusses the Day of Judgment and Allah's justice in dealing with His creation. It follows the account of various nations and prophets, contextualizing how Allah will judge humanity with absolute justice and knowledge on the Day of Reckoning.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'There is no Day more difficult for the disbelievers than the Day of Judgment, yet it will be but a brief moment for the believers.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) Additionally, 'On the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an and those who acted by it will be brought forward' (Sahih Muslim), relating to how deeds will be presented with knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no deed escapes Allah's knowledge and that all actions will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment, encouraging mindfulness in conduct and sincere repentance. It provides solace that justice will ultimately prevail when Allah presents the truth to all creation with perfect knowledge and fairness.
Related Ayahs
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] -
فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.
يَوْمَ هُم بَـٰرِزُونَ ۖ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَىْءٌ ۚ لِّمَنِ ٱلْمُلْكُ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ
The Day they come forth nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allāh. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allāh will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen" -