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
وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا۟ ٱلطَّلَـٰقَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And if they decide on divorce - then indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.
يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَوْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ
[And Luqmān said], "O my son, indeed if it [i.e., a wrong] should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth. Indeed, Allāh is Subtle and Aware.
يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ٱلْمُبِينُ
That Day, Allāh will pay them in full their true [i.e., deserved] recompense, and they will know that it is Allāh who is the manifest Truth [i.e., perfect in justice].