إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ 5
Translations
Indeed, from Allāh nothing is hidden in the earth nor in the heaven.
Transliteration
Inna Allaha la yakhfa alayhi shay'un fi al-ardi wa la fi al-sama'i
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's complete and absolute knowledge of all things, whether visible or hidden, on earth or in the heavens. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse establishes that nothing—whether actions, intentions, secrets, or words—escapes Allah's omniscience, emphasizing divine accountability and the futility of attempting to hide anything from the Creator. The ayah serves as both a warning to those who transgress and comfort to the believers that their sincere deeds are always known to Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ali 'Imran's discussion of Allah's attributes and the consequences of disbelief and faith. It follows verses addressing the people of the Scripture and serves to reinforce the theme that Allah's knowledge encompasses all existence, making divine judgment inevitable and fair.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than one of you is pleased with finding his lost camel in the desert' (Sahih Muslim 2750), illustrating that Allah knows of all repentance. Additionally, the hadith 'Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you' (Sahih Bukhari 50) reflects the practical application of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to maintain consciousness of Allah (Taqwa) in all circumstances, knowing that sincerity in faith and action matters more than outward appearance, as Allah alone judges hearts and intentions. It should inspire Muslims to purify their intentions and conduct themselves with integrity whether observed or unobserved by others.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ ٱلْأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ ۖ وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ عِندَهُۥ بِمِقْدَارٍ
Allāh knows what every female carries and what the wombs lose [prematurely] or exceed. And everything with Him is by due measure.
وَمَا تَكُونُ فِى شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُوا۟ مِنْهُ مِن قُرْءَانٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَآ أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], you are not [engaged] in any matter and do not recite any of the Qur’ān and you [people] do not do any deed except that We are witness over you when you are involved in it. And not absent from your Lord is any [part] of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register.
أَلَّا يَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى يُخْرِجُ ٱلْخَبْءَ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allāh, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -
يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٱلْغَفُورُ
He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein. And He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.