وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَـٰرُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَنَنتُمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ 22
Translations
And you were not covering [i.e., protecting] yourselves, lest your hearing testify against you or your sight or your skins, but you assumed that Allāh does not know much of what you do.
Transliteration
Wa maa kuntum tastatiroon an yashada alaikum samʿukum wa laa absaarakum wa laa juludukum wa laakin zannantum anna Allaha la yaʿlamu katheeran mimma taʿmaloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who sinned in secret, thinking Allah was unaware of their deeds. The ayah emphasizes that on the Day of Judgment, even their own faculties—hearing, sight, and skin—will testify against them, refuting their assumption that Allah's knowledge was limited. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Allah's knowledge and the futility of attempting to hide one's actions from the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Fussilat's discussion of the Day of Judgment and resurrection. It is part of a passage describing how the disbelievers and wrongdoers will be confronted with the reality of their deeds. The broader context emphasizes that Allah is fully aware of all actions, thoughts, and intentions, addressing the false security some felt in committing sins secretly.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Modesty and faith are tied together; when one is lifted, the other follows' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes how the skin will testify against those who committed sins: 'The limbs will testify against the person for their deeds.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no action—no matter how secret or concealed—escapes Allah's knowledge, and that we cannot deceive the Divine. It should inspire mindfulness of our deeds in private, knowing that ultimate accountability is inevitable and that even our own bodies will bear witness against us.