قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ 32
Translations
They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."
Transliteration
Qalū subḥānaka lā ʿilma lanā illā mā ʿallamtanā innaka anta al-ʿAlīmu al-Ḥakīmu
Tafsir (Explanation)
The angels respond to Allah's command regarding Adam's creation by declaring their absolute dependence on Allah's knowledge and wisdom, acknowledging that they possess no knowledge except what Allah has taught them. This verse demonstrates the angels' humility and recognition of Allah's supremacy, as noted by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, who emphasize that this response reflects the angels' understanding that all knowledge originates from Allah alone. The verse serves as a rebuke to their initial questioning (verse 2:30) and illustrates the proper attitude of submission before divine wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the context of Allah's creation of Adam and the angels' initial protest about placing a khalifah (vicegerent) on earth. The angels questioned why Allah would create humans who would cause corruption and bloodshed, but after witnessing Adam being taught the names of all things (which he could do while the angels could not), they acknowledge their limited knowledge and submit to Allah's wisdom. This demonstrates the unfolding of events in surah al-Baqarah that establish Islamic principles of knowledge and divine wisdom.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3442) where the Prophet Muhammad said, 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose character is finest and who is kindest to his wife,' relates thematically to humility and acknowledging divine instruction. Additionally, the hadith 'No one of you should say I am better than Jonah' (Sahih Bukhari 3411) reflects a similar spirit of humility before Allah's knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to approach learning and knowledge with profound humility, recognizing that all wisdom comes from Allah and that true understanding requires acknowledgment of human limitations. It encourages believers to submit to divine wisdom even when human reason initially questions divine decisions, fostering a mindset of trust in Allah's perfect knowledge and plan.