لَّـٰكِنِ ٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ أَنزَلَهُۥ بِعِلْمِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا 166
Translations
But Allāh bears witness to that which He has revealed to you. He has sent it down with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness [as well]. And sufficient is Allāh as Witness.
Transliteration
Lākin-illāhu yashhadu bimā anzala ilayka anzalahu bi'ilmihi wa-al-malāikatu yashhadu wa-kafā billāhi shahīdā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse affirms that Allah Himself bears witness to the revelation sent to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), emphasizing that He revealed it with His perfect knowledge, and the angels also testify to its truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this as a powerful declaration of the Quran's authenticity and divine origin, refuting the accusations of disbelievers who denied the revelation. The phrase 'and Allah is sufficient as a witness' (kafā billāhi shahīdā) conveys that Allah's testimony supersedes all other testimonies and needs no corroboration.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of matters of faith, testimony, and the rights of women. It comes after verses addressing disputes about the revelation and accusations against the Prophet, serving to reinforce the divine authenticity of the Quranic message against the skepticism and objections of the Meccan disbelievers and hypocrites of Medina.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4472): The Prophet said, 'The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.' This relates to the importance of preserving and transmitting the witnessed revelation. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the angels' involvement in revelation and their witnessing of divine truth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches believers that the Quran's truth is guaranteed by Allah Himself and supported by the celestial realm, providing unwavering confidence in the message regardless of worldly opposition or skepticism; it encourages Muslims to trust in Divine wisdom and transmit this witnessed revelation faithfully to subsequent generations.
Related Ayahs
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allāh, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allāh is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا
And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allāh and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper"?
مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا
What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.
۞ لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًا عَلِيمًا
Allāh does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Knowing.