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
إِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِىٌّ عَنكُمْ ۖ وَلَا يَرْضَىٰ لِعِبَادِهِ ٱلْكُفْرَ ۖ وَإِن تَشْكُرُوا۟ يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
If you disbelieve - indeed, Allāh is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves [i.e., likes] it for you; and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about what you used to do. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ ظَلَمَتْ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And if each soul that wronged had everything on earth, it would offer it in ransom. And they will confide regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.
وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -
وَسُيِّرَتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ فَكَانَتْ سَرَابًا
And the mountains are removed and will be [but] a mirage.