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
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِم بَطَرًا وَرِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
And do not be like those who came forth from their homes insolently and to be seen by people and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And Allāh is encompassing of what they do.
وَٱتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا
And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed Allāh is ever, of what you do, Aware.
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتًا غَيْرَ مَسْكُونَةٍ فِيهَا مَتَـٰعٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ
There is no blame upon you for entering houses not inhabited in which there is convenience for you. And Allāh knows what you reveal and what you conceal.
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مُنَـٰفِقُونَ ۖ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ
And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madīnah. They have persisted in hypocrisy. You, [O Muḥammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice [in this world]; then they will be returned to a great punishment.