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
بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًا
But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever, of him, Seeing.
إِنَّ رَبَّهُم بِهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّخَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Aware.
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.
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.