وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ 3
Translations
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed,
Transliteration
wa shahidin wa mashhud
Tafsir (Explanation)
This phrase refers to the witness and the witnessed—commentators interpret this as referring to the Day of Judgment when all deeds and actions will be witnessed and observed. Ibn Kathir explains that 'shahid' (the witness) refers to Allah and His angels, or alternatively to the conscience of man itself, while 'mashhud' (the witnessed) refers to the deeds of humanity. Al-Tabari notes that this emphasizes the comprehensive knowledge and accountability on the Day of Resurrection, when nothing remains hidden from divine justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Buruj is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam, addressing the polytheists of Mecca and emphasizing Allah's power and justice. This particular phrase appears in the opening oath-swearing section (verses 1-3) where Allah swears by the heavens, the night-comer (a bright star), and the concepts of witnessing, establishing the theme of divine omniscience and accountability that pervades the entire surah.
Related Hadiths
The concept is related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every soul shall taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.' This emphasizes the witnessing of deeds and ultimate accountability. Additionally, the hadith regarding the recording angels in Sahih Muslim connects to this theme: 'The Noble Recording Angels know all that we do.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah is fully aware of all our actions, thoughts, and intentions—nothing escapes His knowledge. For modern readers, this should inspire conscious living and awareness that we will be held accountable for our deeds, encouraging us to act with integrity and righteousness in all circumstances.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ لَخَبِيرٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
And that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], of the Book is the truth, confirming what was before it. Indeed Allāh, of His servants, is Aware and Seeing.
يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ ٱلْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِى ٱلصُّدُورُ
He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal.
وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ بَصِيرًۢا
And if Allāh were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon it [i.e., the earth] any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allāh has ever been, of His servants, Seeing.
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَىُّ ٱلْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوٓا۟ أَمَدًا
Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.