وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ كِتَـٰبًا 29
Translations
But all things We have enumerated in writing.
Transliteration
Wa-kulla shay'in ahsaynahu kitaban
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah has recorded and enumerated all things in a comprehensive Book (the Preserved Tablet, or Lawh al-Mahfuz). Ibn Kathir explains that nothing escapes Allah's knowledge or divine record—every action, deed, and occurrence is meticulously documented. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes this demonstrates Allah's perfect omniscience and serves as a reminder of ultimate accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naba, a Meccan chapter focused on affirming core Islamic beliefs including resurrection, divine knowledge, and God's comprehensive power. The surah's overall context emphasizes the certainty of the Day of Judgment and Allah's complete knowledge of all creation, making this ayah part of a broader reassurance to believers about divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The first thing Allah created was the pen, and He said to it: Write. It said: O Lord, what shall I write? He said: Write the decree of all things until the Hour comes.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) - This directly relates to the concept of divine recording mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah should inspire believers to maintain consciousness of Allah (taqwa) in all their actions, knowing that nothing is hidden from Him and all deeds are recorded for the Day of Judgment. It provides comfort that justice is guaranteed—no deed, whether good or harmful, goes unnoticed or unrewarded.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. 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 with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "Would you acquaint Allāh with your religion while Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allāh is Knowing of all things?"
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
And establish prayer and give zakāh, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allāh. Indeed Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.
وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ
And that within the breasts is obtained,