هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 22
Translations
He is Allāh, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Transliteration
Huwa-llahu alladhi la ilaha illa huwa, alim al-ghayb wa-al-shahada, huwa al-Rahman al-Rahim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a comprehensive declaration of Allah's absolute oneness and His essential attributes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes four fundamental divine attributes: Allah's unique godship (tawhid), His knowledge of both the unseen and visible realms, and His boundless mercy and compassion. Al-Qurtubi notes this ayah serves as a complete introduction to Allah's divine nature, affirming that nothing and no one exists except by His will and knowledge.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hashr was revealed in Madinah after the Battle of Badr, during the context of dealing with the Banu Nadir tribe's expulsion. This ayah appears near the surah's conclusion and serves as a powerful affirmation of divine justice and sovereignty, reminding believers that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses all affairs, whether hidden or manifest, providing reassurance of His ultimate wisdom in worldly events.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest ayah in the Qur'an is Ayat al-Kursi' (Surah 2:255), which shares similar themes of Allah's supreme attributes. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet taught that calling upon Allah by His names Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim brings answered prayers, directly connecting to the names mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's perfect knowledge encompasses all hidden and manifest realities, providing comfort that no injustice occurs without His awareness. For modern readers, this reinforces trust in divine providence and the assurance that approaching Allah through His merciful names brings hope and spiritual transformation.
Related Ayahs
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
He neither begets nor is born,
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ فِى ٱلْأُولَىٰ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And He is Allāh; there is no deity except Him. To Him is [due all] praise in the first [life] and the Hereafter. And His is the [final] decision, and to Him you will be returned.