وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 56
Translations
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allāh's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."
Transliteration
Wa qala alladhina ootoo al-ilma wa al-imana laqad labith tum fi kitabi Allahi ila yawm al-baath fa hatha yawm al-baath wa lakin nakum kuntum la ta'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, those blessed with knowledge and faith will address the disbelievers, informing them that their time in the world (as recorded in Allah's Book of Decrees) was only until the Day of Resurrection, and that day has now arrived. The scholars like Ibn Kathir note this verse emphasizes that the believers' testimony against the disbelievers will be based on Divine knowledge, highlighting the distinction between those who believed in Allah's revelation and those who rejected it despite the clarity of signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Rum's eschatological discourse on the Day of Judgment. Within the surah's broader context of discussing the signs of Allah and the certainty of the resurrection, this verse appears in a passage describing the interactions between the believers and disbelievers on that inevitable Day, reinforcing the theme of ultimate accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best among you are those with the most knowledge and the best character' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever Allah wishes good for, He grants him understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari) relates to the virtue of knowledge ('ilm) and faith ('iman) mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse reminds believers that knowledge coupled with genuine faith grants them wisdom to understand divine truths that others deny, and that on the Day of Judgment, this knowledge will serve as testimony to the justice of Allah's decree. For modern readers, it emphasizes that acquiring Islamic knowledge alongside sincere faith is not merely intellectual pursuit but preparation for accountability before Allah.
Related Ayahs
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنظَرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "So indeed, you are of those reprieved
مَا ٱلْحَآقَّةُ
What is the Inevitable Reality?
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein [i.e., by day] that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.