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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَظَلَمُوا۟ لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ وَلَا لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقًا
Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong [or injustice] - never will Allāh forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path,
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَفَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ظَالِمِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ ٱللَّهِ وَٰسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا۟ فِيهَا ۚ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." They [the angels] will say, "Was not the earth of Allāh spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination.
وَلْيَخْشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَـٰفًا خَافُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.