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.