وَإِن جَـٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ 68
Translations
And if they dispute with you, then say, "Allāh is most knowing of what you do.
Transliteration
Wa-in jadalooka faqul-Allahu a'lamu bima ta'malun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that when the disbelievers dispute and argue with him about the message of Islam, he should respond by saying 'Allah knows best what you do,' placing all judgment and reckoning with Allah. Ibn Kathir explains this as a directive to avoid prolonged, futile argumentation and to remind the disputants that Allah is fully aware of their intentions and deeds, which will be judged on the Day of Judgment. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this response demonstrates wisdom and patience, implicitly warning that Allah's knowledge is all-encompassing and that accountability rests with Him alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Al-Hajj, which addresses various aspects of pilgrimage and faith during the period when the Muslim community faced considerable opposition and argumentation from Meccan disbelievers and hypocrites. The broader context of this section deals with the proper response of believers to those who deny or dispute the truth of Allah's revelation.
Related Hadiths
The principle aligns with Surah Al-Anfal 8:61 regarding patience in the face of opposition. Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains hadith traditions encouraging believers to avoid prolonged disputation about matters of faith, as seen in the Prophet's guidance on engaging with those who reject the message.
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with argumentative opposition to faith, believers should remain composed and entrust judgment to Allah rather than engage in endless disputation, recognizing that Allah's knowledge encompasses all actions and intentions. This teaches us to prioritize spiritual tranquility and reliance on Divine justice over winning worldly arguments.
Related Ayahs
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِهِۦ عِلْمًا
He [i.e., Allāh] knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, but they do not encompass it [i.e., what He knows] in knowledge.
وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
And Allāh knows what you conceal and what you declare.
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَىٰ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطًا
They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allāh, and He is with them [in His knowledge] when they spend the night in such as He does not accept of speech. And ever is Allāh, of what they do, encompassing.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مَن يَضِلُّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.