وَمَا تَكُونُ فِى شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُوا۟ مِنْهُ مِن قُرْءَانٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَآ أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْبَرَ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ 61
Translations
And, [O Muḥammad], you are not [engaged] in any matter and do not recite any of the Qur’ān and you [people] do not do any deed except that We are witness over you when you are involved in it. And not absent from your Lord is any [part] of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register.
Transliteration
Wa mā takūnu fī sha'nin wa mā tatlū minhu min Qur'āni wa lā ta'malūna min 'amalin illā kullnā 'alaykum shuhadā'a idhā tufiḍūna fīhi wa mā ya'zubi 'an rabbika min mithqāli dharratin fil-arḍi wa lā fis-samā'i wa lā asghara min dhālika wa lā akbara illā fī kitābin mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's complete knowledge and awareness of all human actions, whether great or small. The verse establishes that Allah is witnessing all our deeds, from reciting the Qur'an to everyday actions, and nothing is hidden from His knowledge—not even an atom's weight on earth or in the heavens. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as both a warning against transgression and a comfort for believers, knowing that righteous deeds, no matter how small, are recorded in Allah's Clear Record (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Yunus, a Meccan chapter revealed to strengthen the early Muslims' faith during persecution. The broader context addresses the disbelievers' mockery and the believers' anxiety about their position, reminding them that Allah's omniscience provides both accountability and divine justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Fear Allah wherever you are, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed, it will wipe it out, and behave towards people with good character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1987). Additionally, 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027) relates to the emphasis on Qur'anic recitation being observed by Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that believers should always maintain consciousness of Allah's presence (Taqwa), knowing that every action—both visible and hidden—is recorded and will be reckoned. It should inspire both caution against wrongdoing and confidence that sincere efforts, however seemingly insignificant, hold value in Allah's sight and contribute to eternal reward.