نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَسْتَمِعُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِذْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِذْ هُمْ نَجْوَىٰٓ إِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مَّسْحُورًا 47
Translations
We are most knowing of how they listen to it when they listen to you and [of] when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say, "You follow not but a man affected by magic."
Transliteration
Nahnu a'lamu bima yastami'una bihi idh yastami'una ilayka wa-idh hum najwa idh yaqulu al-zalimun in tattabi'una illa rajulan mashuran
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah asserts His complete knowledge of what the disbelievers listen to when they hear the Prophet's message, and of their secret conversations wherein they mockingly claim that the believers follow only a bewitched man. This ayah emphasizes Allah's omniscience regarding both overt and hidden opposition to the Prophet. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this revelation was a source of comfort to the Prophet, assuring him that Allah witnesses and is fully aware of the mockery and rejection he faced, and that such accusations of sorcery were common Meccan objections to discredit his message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah dealing with the disbelievers' rejection and mockery of the Prophet Muhammad. The context reflects the specific accusations leveled against him in Mecca, where polytheists claimed he was bewitched (mashurun) to explain away his persuasive preaching, rather than acknowledging the truth of his message.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of the Prophet's patience against mockery is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet was told to ignore those who mock the verses of Allah. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet faced accusations of being possessed or bewitched, which he patiently endured as a test from Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's knowledge encompasses all hidden thoughts and secret conversations, providing reassurance that injustice, mockery, and false accusations do not escape His awareness. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to have trust in Divine justice and to maintain patience when facing ridicule or rejection for one's faith, knowing that Allah fully witnesses and will ultimately judge all matters.
Related Ayahs
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.
وَتَرَى ٱلْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِىَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ صُنْعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And you see the mountains, thinking them motionless, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allāh, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Aware of that which you do.
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.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلْخَلْقِ غَـٰفِلِينَ
And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.