إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 86
Translations
Indeed, your Lord - He is the Knowing Creator.
Transliteration
Inna rabbaka huwa al-khallaqu al-aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone is the Creator of all things and possesses complete knowledge of His creation. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this statement serves as a powerful consolation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) amid the rejection he faced from the Quraysh, reminding him that Allah's creative power and omniscience are absolute and sufficient. The dual attributes—Al-Khallaaq (The Creator) and Al-Aleem (The All-Knowing)—emphasize that nothing escapes Allah's sight or control, whether in creation or in the affairs of mankind.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan chapter revealed during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The surah addresses the disbelievers' mockery and rejection, and this particular verse reassures the Prophet that despite human denial, Allah remains the ultimate Creator and Judge who knows all affairs. The verse follows discussions about the creation of humanity and the heavens, contextualizing divine knowledge within the framework of divine creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah created the creation, and then He created mercy. He said to it: Go forward! And it went forward. He said to it: Go back! And it went back' (Sahih Muslim 2751). This hadith complements the ayah by illustrating Allah's creative control and the manifestation of His knowledge in His creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find complete reassurance in Allah's attributes as the All-Knowing Creator, understanding that He is fully aware of all circumstances, intentions, and outcomes—a foundational belief that should strengthen patience during trials and unwavering trust in His divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
He knows what is within the heavens and earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare. And Allāh is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَإِذْ غَدَوْتَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ تُبَوِّئُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَقَـٰعِدَ لِلْقِتَالِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And [remember] when you, [O Muḥammad], left your family in the morning to post the believers at their stations for the battle [of Uḥud] - and Allāh is Hearing and Knowing -
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.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ فَمِنكُمْ كَافِرٌ وَمِنكُم مُّؤْمِنٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.