ذَٰلِكَ مَبْلَغُهُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ 30
Translations
That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided.
Transliteration
Dhālika mablāghuhum min al-'ilm. Inna rabbaka huwa a'lamu biman dalla 'an sabīlih wa huwa a'lamu biman ihtadā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the discussion about those who deny Allah's signs and follow their whims, stating that their knowledge is limited to worldly matters and sensory perception. Allah alone possesses complete knowledge of who strays from His path and who is guided, emphasizing that human judgment is imperfect while Allah's knowledge is infinite and absolute. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah serves as a reminder that ultimate judgment belongs to Allah alone, not to human speculation or limited understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm's discussion of those who reject the Quran and Divine guidance, particularly addressing the polytheists of Mecca who relied solely on inherited customs and conjecture rather than revelation. The surah emphasizes the limitations of human knowledge compared to Allah's infinite wisdom, and this ayah specifically refutes those who claim certainty in matters beyond human comprehension.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). This relates thematically to recognizing that true guidance comes from Allah's knowledge, not human preference. Additionally, 'Whoever conceals knowledge, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire' (Sunan Ibn Majah 230) reflects on the limitations and accountability regarding knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches humility in the face of matters beyond our comprehension and reminds us that while we may observe apparent guidance or misguidance in others, only Allah possesses true knowledge of hearts and ultimate destinies. In our modern age of information overload, it encourages us to distinguish between limited worldly knowledge and spiritual truth, trusting in Allah's superior wisdom rather than human conjecture.