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
قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِۦ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا
Say, "Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way."
ٱقْرَأْ كِتَـٰبَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is yourself against you this Day as accountant."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَـٰنٍ أَتَىٰهُمْ ۙ إِن فِى صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَّا هُم بِبَـٰلِغِيهِ ۚ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh without [any] evidence having come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allāh. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing.
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.