أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُمْ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ 78
Translations
Did they not know that Allāh knows their secrets and their private conversations and that Allāh is the Knower of the unseen?
Transliteration
Alam ya'lamū anna Allāha ya'lamu sirrrahum wa najwāhum wa anna Allāha 'allāmu al-ghuyūb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who engaged in secret conversations and hidden plots against the Prophet and Muslims, reminding them that Allah is fully aware of all their secrets and private discussions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this serves as a stern warning that no secret deed or whispered conversation escapes Allah's knowledge, as He is 'Allām al-Ghuyūb (the Knower of all unseen things). The ayah underscores the Islamic principle that Allah's knowledge encompasses both the manifest and the hidden, deterring believers from engaging in deception or hypocrisy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (revealed in Medina), which addresses the hypocrites of Medina who outwardly professed Islam while harboring doubt and engaging in conspiracies. The broader context involves the aftermath of the Battle of Tabuk, where the hypocrites' true nature and secret machinations were exposed, necessitating this divine reminder of Allah's all-encompassing knowledge.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one; whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise,' and among these names is 'Al-'Alīm' (The All-Knowing), emphasizing Allah's complete knowledge (Sahih Bukhari 2736). Additionally, the hadith about the three whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment includes those who hide their charity, reflecting the theme of hidden deeds being known to Allah (Sahih Bukhari 629).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no thought, word, or secret deed escapes Allah's awareness, encouraging sincere and transparent conduct in both public and private life. It serves as a profound deterrent against hypocrisy and deception, reminding us that true piety requires consistency between inner faith and outward actions.
Related Ayahs
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Would you not fight against a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allāh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مُنَـٰفِقُونَ ۖ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ
And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madīnah. They have persisted in hypocrisy. You, [O Muḥammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice [in this world]; then they will be returned to a great punishment.
خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِم بِهَا وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ إِنَّ صَلَوٰتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَّهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Take, [O Muḥammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase, and invoke [Allāh's blessings] upon them. Indeed, your invocations are reassurance for them. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.