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
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.
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ
And Allāh is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.
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."