وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ 23
Translations
And Allāh is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.
Transliteration
Wa-Allahu a'lamu bima yū'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah possesses complete knowledge of all that people conceal, promise, and intend in their hearts. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this verse emphasizes Allah's all-encompassing knowledge as a response to those who hide their disbelief or make false promises, assuring believers that nothing is hidden from Him. The verse serves as both a warning to the deceitful and a comfort to the truthful, reinforcing the theme of divine omniscience that runs throughout Surah Al-Inshiqaq.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the final verses of Surah Al-Inshiqaq, which is a Meccan chapter addressing the realities of the Day of Judgment and divine knowledge. The broader context of the surah deals with the cosmic upheaval on the Day of Resurrection and emphasizes that every soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back, with this final ayah concluding that Allah's knowledge encompasses all hidden secrets and intentions.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is on the earth, and Allah is All-Knowing of all things' (Quran 64:11). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari states that the Prophet said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family,' emphasizing that true character is known to Allah regardless of outward appearance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate sincerity in their intentions and actions, knowing that Allah's knowledge is absolute and penetrates all hidden thoughts and promises. This awareness should inspire genuine piety rather than mere outward conformity, as ultimately only Allah's judgment matters.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَـٰمٌ وَٱلْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَّا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَـٰتُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of Allāh would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.
ذَٰلِكَ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,