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
لَن تَنفَعَكُمْ أَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ ۚ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Never will your relatives or your children benefit you; the Day of Resurrection He will judge between you. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
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.
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُونَ صُدُورَهُمْ لِيَسْتَخْفُوا۟ مِنْهُ ۚ أَلَا حِينَ يَسْتَغْشُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Unquestionably, they [i.e., the disbelievers] turn away their breasts to hide themselves from him. Unquestionably, [even] when they cover themselves in their clothing, He [i.e., Allāh] knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
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.