قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 16
Translations
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?"
Transliteration
Qul a-tu'allimun Allah bi-dinakum wa-Allah ya'lamu ma fi-s-samawati wa-ma fi-l-ard. Wa-Allah bi-kulli shay'in 'alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's command to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to rebuke those who presume to teach Allah about their religion, implying they know better than His guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a response to the Bedouins' arrogant claim of faith and their suggestion that they could instruct the Prophet on matters of religion. The ayah powerfully asserts Allah's absolute knowledge of all that exists in the heavens and earth, rendering any human attempt to 'correct' or 'teach' Allah absurd and futile.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hujurat's correction of the Bedouins' social behavior and arrogant attitudes. Specifically, it addresses their presumptuous claim that they believed, when in fact true belief requires obedience to Allah and His Prophet. The broader surah discusses etiquette, avoiding slander, and proper conduct within the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most hated person to Allah is the most arrogant' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith about those who claim knowledge they don't possess relates to this theme of human limitation before Divine knowledge (Al-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to approach their faith with humility, recognizing that no human can improve upon Allah's perfect guidance or claim superiority in religious understanding. It serves as a timeless reminder against arrogance and the importance of submitting to Divine wisdom rather than relying on personal opinion or societal pressure.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن تَجْهَرْ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allāh sees?
قُلْ إِن ضَلَلْتُ فَإِنَّمَآ أَضِلُّ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِى ۖ وَإِنِ ٱهْتَدَيْتُ فَبِمَا يُوحِىٓ إِلَىَّ رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ سَمِيعٌ قَرِيبٌ
Say, "If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near."
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.