Ar-Ra'd · Ayah 9

عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ٱلْمُتَعَالِ 9

Translations

[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Grand, the Exalted.

Transliteration

'Alimul-ghaybi wash-shahādati al-kabīrul-muta'āli

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah describes Allah's perfect knowledge encompassing both the unseen (al-ghayb) - that which is hidden from creation - and the visible (ash-shahādah) - that which is manifest and witnessed. Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that Allah's knowledge is absolute and eternal, distinguishing Him from His creation who possess only limited, temporal knowledge. The attributes 'al-Kabir' (The Great) and 'al-Muta'ali' (The Most High/Exalted) reinforce His supreme majesty and transcendence above all creation.

Revelation Context

This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder), a Medinan surah addressing the Makkan polytheists' rejection of the Qur'an and resurrection. The context emphasizes Allah's sovereignty and knowledge as evidence against those who deny divine guidance, establishing that Allah's awareness of all affairs makes His judgment certain and irrevocable.

Related Hadiths

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Allah said: I am as My slave thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), which relates to Allah's knowledge of the hidden intentions and hearts. Additionally, 'There is nothing hidden from Allah on earth or in the heavens' (Tirmidhi 3194) directly reinforces this ayah's meaning.

Themes

Divine Knowledge ('Ilm)Divine AttributesThe Unseen (Al-Ghayb)God's TranscendenceContrast between Creator and Creation

Key Lesson

Recognizing Allah's complete knowledge of all that is hidden and visible should inspire believers to maintain consciousness of God (taqwa) in all circumstances, knowing that no action escapes His awareness. This knowledge provides both comfort to the righteous and warning to those who transgress.

0:00
0:00

Related Ayahs

13:29Ar-Ra'd

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ

Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.

13:16Ar-Ra'd

قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّورُ ۗ أَمْ جَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ خَلَقُوا۟ كَخَلْقِهِۦ فَتَشَـٰبَهَ ٱلْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّـٰرُ

Say, "Who is Lord of the heavens and earth?" Say, "Allāh." Say, "Have you then taken besides Him allies not possessing [even] for themselves any benefit or any harm?" Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Or is darkness equivalent to light? Or have they attributed to Allāh partners who created like His creation so that the creation [of each] seemed similar to them?" Say, "Allāh is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Prevailing."

13:18Ar-Ra'd

لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ

For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.

13:10Ar-Ra'd

سَوَآءٌ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ ٱلْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِۦ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍۭ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِٱلنَّهَارِ

It is the same [to Him] concerning you whether one conceals [his] speech or publicizes it and whether one is hidden by night or conspicuous [among others] by day.