قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْعِلْمُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ 26
Translations
Say, "The knowledge is only with Allāh, and I am only a clear warner."
Transliteration
Qul innama al-'ilmu 'inda Allah wa-innama ana natheerun mubeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that true knowledge of unseen matters, particularly regarding the Hour (Day of Judgment) and future events, belongs exclusively to Allah alone. This ayah establishes the limitation of human knowledge and the Prophet's role as a clear warner, not as one who claims supernatural knowledge of hidden matters. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this response was given when the disbelievers asked about when the Hour would come, demonstrating that even the Prophet does not possess knowledge of such divine secrets.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mulk, which discusses Allah's absolute sovereignty and the signs of His creation. The immediate context involves disbelievers questioning the Prophet about the timing of the Day of Judgment, prompting this clarification of the boundaries between divine knowledge ('ilm) and prophetic responsibility (nithara).
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that when asked about the Hour, the Prophet said: 'The one asked about it knows no better than the one asking.' This aligns with the ayah's principle that knowledge of the unseen is with Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to distinguish between faith in the divine message and claims of supernatural knowledge, reminding us that our role is to follow guidance and warn others, while trusting that Allah alone holds all knowledge. It also encourages intellectual humility—recognizing the limits of human understanding regarding metaphysical realities.
Related Ayahs
فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.
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.
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
But never will Allāh delay a soul when its time has come. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.