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.
Related Ayahs
وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ ٱلْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُۥ فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth and to Him will be returned the matter, all of it, so worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of that which you do.
مَّا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ
Not upon the Messenger is [responsibility] except [for] notification. And Allāh knows whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal.
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَعَصَوُا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّىٰ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَا يَكْتُمُونَ ٱللَّهَ حَدِيثًا
That Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish they could be covered by the earth. And they will not conceal from Allāh a [single] statement.
ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ وَٱللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ
Then there will be no [excuse upon] examination except they will say, "By Allāh, our Lord, we were not those who associated."