يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ ٱلْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِى ٱلصُّدُورُ 19
Translations
He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal.
Transliteration
Ya'lamu khā'inata al-a'yuni wa mā tukhfī as-sudūr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah knows the hidden glances and treacherous looks of the eyes, as well as all the secrets concealed within the hearts of people. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'khā'inatu al-a'yun' (the betrayal of the eyes) refers to furtive glances and deceptive looks that reveal one's true intentions—such as coveting another's wealth or spouse—while 'mā tukhfī as-sudūr' encompasses all inner thoughts and hidden desires. This ayah emphasizes Allah's complete knowledge of both the manifest and the concealed, leaving nothing hidden from His divine awareness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ghafir's discussion of Allah's attributes of knowledge and might, particularly in response to the disbelievers' arrogance and denial. It follows warnings about those who dispute the signs of Allah and serves to remind listeners that Allah's knowledge encompasses all dimensions of human existence—internal and external—making accountability inevitable.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Modesty and faith are companions. When one of them is lifted, the other is lifted as well' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2009), reflecting the connection between inner faith and outward comportment. Additionally, the hadith 'Allah does not look at your forms or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds' (Sahih Muslim 2564) reinforces that Allah's knowledge penetrates beyond external appearances.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should cultivate awareness that Allah's knowledge extends to their innermost thoughts and hidden intentions, not merely their outward actions, which should inspire consciousness of God (taqwā) in private and public. This awareness encourages purification of the heart and alignment of intentions with divine will, recognizing that sincerity before Allah matters more than outward displays.