وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا ٱلْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا ٱلْمُسْتَـْٔخِرِينَ 24
Translations
And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].
Transliteration
Wa-laqad 'alimna al-mustaqaddimīna minkum wa-laqad 'alimna al-mustaʾkhirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah affirms His complete knowledge of all generations of mankind—both those who came before and those who will come after the time of the Prophet. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this as a declaration of Allah's omniscience encompassing all of time, emphasizing that no human action escapes His awareness regardless of when it occurs. This ayah serves to remind believers of Divine accountability and the futility of attempting to hide deeds from the All-Knowing.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan surah addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who denied the Prophet's message. The broader context deals with Allah's refutation of polytheistic claims and affirmation of monotheism. The ayah fits within the surah's theme of establishing Allah's complete knowledge and power as evidence against those who deny Divine omniscience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Allah knows what every soul will earn' (Quran 31:34), which the scholars connect to this ayah. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet emphasized no deed is hidden from Allah, reinforcing the concept of Divine knowledge presented here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's knowledge transcends time and space, making every action ultimately accountable before Him. It should inspire consciousness of Divine observation (taqwa) in our daily lives, knowing that sincerity and integrity matter eternally regardless of worldly consequences.
Related Ayahs
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِكُمْ ۖ إِن يَشَأْ يَرْحَمْكُمْ أَوْ إِن يَشَأْ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Your Lord is most knowing of you. If He wills, He will have mercy upon you; or if He wills, He will punish you. And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], over them as a manager.
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "Would you acquaint Allāh with your religion while Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allāh is Knowing of all things?"
قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَـٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَآ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Certainly has Allāh heard the speech of the one who argues [i.e., pleads] with you, [O Muḥammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allāh. And Allāh hears your dialogue; indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.