قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّى وَلَا يَنسَى 52
Translations
[Moses] said, "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets."
Transliteration
Qala 'ilmuha 'inda Rabbi fee kitaab, la yadillu Rabbi wa la yansa
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah's knowledge of the Hour (Day of Judgment) is preserved in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz), and Allah neither errs nor forgets anything. This ayah affirms Allah's perfect knowledge and infallibility—He does not lose knowledge nor forget what He has recorded. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this as a refutation of the misconception that Allah could lose or forget knowledge, establishing the doctrine of Allah's absolute omniscience and perfect preservation of all things.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Taha where Prophet Musa (Moses) is being addressed by Allah at the burning bush. The immediate context involves questions about the unseen matters, and this verse specifically responds to inquiries about the Hour and when it will occur—knowledge that belongs exclusively to Allah and is recorded in His eternal record.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most truthful statement ever made by a poet is the verse of Labid: 'Verily, everything other than Allah is false.' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith 'He (Allah) knew what would happen before the creation of the heavens and earth' (Sahih Muslim) echoes the theme of Allah's pre-eternal knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's knowledge is complete, perfect, and eternally preserved—nothing is lost or forgotten by Him. It provides comfort that all our deeds are recorded and that Allah's wisdom encompasses all matters of the past, present, and future, encouraging trust in divine justice and providence.
Related Ayahs
إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muḥammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allāh." And Allāh knows that you are His Messenger, and Allāh testifies that the hypocrites are liars.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلطَّيْرُ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ ۖ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسْبِيحَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
Do you not see that Allāh is exalted by whomever is within the heavens and the earth and [by] the birds with wings spread [in flight]? Each [of them] has known his [means of] prayer and exalting [Him], and Allāh is Knowing of what they do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allāh, to whom you will be gathered.
أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers [i.e., angels] are with them recording.