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
ٱلْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
Then as for one whose scales are heavy [with good deeds],
يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
وَرَءَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ ٱلنَّارَ فَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا۟ عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا
And the criminals will see the Fire and will be certain that they are to fall therein. And they will not find from it a way elsewhere.