قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 4
Translations
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
Transliteration
Qāla rabbī yaʿlamu al-qawla fī al-samāʾi wa-al-arḍi wa-huwa al-samīʿu al-ʿalīmu
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) responds to the mockery of the disbelievers by affirming that his Lord knows all speech—whether spoken in the heavens or on earth—emphasizing Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and perfect hearing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a reassurance that Allah is fully aware of the mockery directed at the Prophet and His message, and nothing escapes His knowledge. The ayah concludes with two divine attributes: As-Samīʿ (The All-Hearing) and Al-ʿAlīm (The All-Knowing), establishing that Allah's knowledge extends beyond human comprehension.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Anbiyāʾ's discussion of the prophets and their struggles against disbelief. It follows verses describing the mockery faced by the Prophet, and serves as a consolation—reminding him and the believers that despite apparent disregard from the disbelievers, Allah's awareness is complete and His justice is certain.
Related Hadiths
The concept echoes in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said: 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose behavior is most excellent, and the best of you are those who are best to their wives.' More directly, this ayah relates to traditions emphasizing that Allah knows all hidden matters—as in the hadith: 'Allah knows what is in your hearts' (Surah Al-Hajj 22:13).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should find comfort in the certainty that no injustice, mockery, or secret deed goes unnoticed by Allah, and should trust in His perfect knowledge and justice rather than being troubled by human criticism or denial. This teaches us to maintain dignity and faith in times of ridicule, knowing that our ultimate accountability is to the All-Knowing, All-Hearing God.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ
And He is Allāh, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ
Does he not know that Allāh sees?
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.