قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ 52
Translations
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."
Transliteration
Qul kafaa billahi bayni wa baynakum shahidan. Ya'lamu ma fi as-samawati wa al-ard. Wa alladhina amanu bil-batili wa kafaru billahi ula'ika hum al-khasiroon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that Allah alone suffices as a witness between him and his opponents, for Allah knows all that is in the heavens and earth, including the hidden secrets and true intentions of all people. The ayah condemns those who believe in falsehood while rejecting Allah's truth, declaring them to be the true losers in both this world and the Hereafter, as they have exchanged guidance for misguidance. Ibn Kathir notes this ayah powerfully establishes Allah's omniscience as the ultimate arbiter in disputes between the believers and disbelievers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-'Ankabut, which addresses the Meccan disbelievers' rejection of the Prophet and their mockery of the believers. It was revealed during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense opposition, providing consolation that Allah's knowledge and justice transcend human perception and earthly conflicts.
Related Hadiths
The concept of Allah as witness relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet said: 'The best witnesses are Allah, then the angels.' Additionally, this theme connects to the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about Allah's comprehensive knowledge: 'Verily, Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing opposition or injustice from others, a believer should place complete trust in Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and justice rather than being troubled by human judgment or denial. This ayah teaches that ultimate success lies in accepting truth and believing in Allah, while the greatest loss is the rejection of divine guidance, regardless of worldly appearances.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allāh is with the doers of good.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Indeed, Allāh knows whatever thing they call upon other than Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ
If you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth and subjected the sun and the moon?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Then how are they deluded?
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱقْتُلُوهُ أَوْ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And the answer of his [i.e., Abraham's] people was not but that they said, "Kill him or burn him," but Allāh saved him from the fire. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.