ذَٰلِكَ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 6
Translations
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
Transliteration
Dhālik 'ālim al-ghayb wa-al-shahādah al-'azīz al-rahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the Knower of both the unseen (al-ghayb) and the seen (al-shahādah)—all hidden realities and manifest realities are known to Him completely. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this attribute demonstrates Allah's perfect knowledge encompassing past, present, and future, while the epithets 'al-'Azīz' (the Mighty/Invincible) and 'al-Rahīm' (the Merciful) together show that His omniscience is paired with both power and compassion, assuring believers that nothing escapes His awareness and judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Sajdah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the polytheists rejected the message of the Quran. This ayah appears in the context of describing Allah's creative power over six days and His establishment of the Throne, serving to reinforce the believers' confidence in Allah's absolute knowledge and control during a time of persecution and doubt.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Nothing is hidden from Allah in the earth or in the sky' (related themes in Sunan An-Nasa'i 8/127). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet teaches that Allah's knowledge encompasses all things: 'Allah wrote the destiny of all creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no secret thought, hidden intention, or unseen action escapes Allah's knowledge, which should inspire both accountability in our deeds and comfort in trusting His perfect justice and merciful judgment. The combination of divine might and mercy reminds us that Allah's omniscience is exercised with both power to enforce justice and compassion toward His creation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
But never will Allāh delay a soul when its time has come. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allāh those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do."
وَإِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّ مِنكُم مُّكَذِّبِينَ
And indeed, We know that among you are deniers.
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.