۞ وَلَهُۥ مَا سَكَنَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 13
Translations
And to Him belongs that which reposes by night and by day, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa lahū mā sakana fī al-layli wa-al-nahāri wa-huwa al-samīʿu al-ʿalīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that everything that dwells or rests during the night and day belongs to Allah alone, emphasizing His complete dominion over all creation at all times. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir interpret 'what dwells' (mā sakana) to refer to all creatures and beings that find rest and shelter, whether animals seeking refuge or people in their homes, reinforcing that all existence is under Allah's sovereignty. The ayah concludes by highlighting two divine attributes—Al-Samīʿ (The All-Hearing) and Al-ʿAlīm (The All-Knowing)—which assure us that Allah is fully aware of all creatures and their conditions at every moment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter that comprehensively addresses tawhīd (monotheism) and refutes polytheism. It comes within a passage establishing Allah's absolute ownership and authority over creation, serving to strengthen the believers' conviction in Allah's singular lordship against the backdrop of Meccan polytheistic practices.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of the Prophet ﷺ emphasizing divine knowledge and hearing: 'Allah hears the supplication of every supplicant and knows the hidden things' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about Allah's knowledge encompassing all things: 'Indeed, Allah knows everything that will happen before it happens.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no creature or moment escapes Allah's awareness and dominion, providing comfort in knowing that our circumstances are fully known to the All-Hearing, All-Knowing Lord. It should inspire us to maintain consciousness of Allah (taqwā) throughout day and night, recognizing that all our actions and conditions are witnessed by Him.