رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ 38
Translations
Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allāh on the earth or in the heaven.
Transliteration
Rabbana innaka ta'lamu ma nukhfi wa ma nu'lin, wa ma yakhfa 'alallahi min shay'in fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents Prophet Ibrahim's supplication acknowledging Allah's complete and absolute knowledge of all things—both hidden and manifest. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this statement reflects Ibrahim's humility and awareness that nothing escapes Allah's omniscience, whether on earth or in the heavens. The ayah establishes the theological principle of Allah's all-encompassing knowledge ('ilm) as a foundation for sincere worship and accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Ibrahim's prayer at the construction of the Ka'bah (14:35-41). It appears after Ibrahim invokes Allah to accept the building of the Sacred House and make it a place of pilgrimage. The broader context shows Ibrahim's consciousness that his actions and intentions are known to Allah, leading him to appeal to divine knowledge as he makes his supplications.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant expects of Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), indicating Allah's knowledge of intentions. Also relevant is the hadith on ihsan from Muslim: 'Worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, surely He sees you.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that since Allah knows all our hidden thoughts, intentions, and deeds—whether concealed or revealed—we should cultivate sincerity in worship and moral integrity in all aspects of life, knowing that nothing escapes divine scrutiny.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Do you not know that Allāh knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَىٰهَآ
In what [position] are you that you should mention it?
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
Indeed, Allāh knows the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth. And Allāh is Seeing of what you do.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He knows what penetrates into the earth and what emerges from it and what descends from the heaven and what ascends therein; and He is with you wherever you are. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.