وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ 3
Translations
And [by] the witness and what is witnessed,
Transliteration
wa shahidin wa mashhud
Tafsir (Explanation)
This phrase refers to the witness and the witnessed—commentators interpret this as referring to the Day of Judgment when all deeds and actions will be witnessed and observed. Ibn Kathir explains that 'shahid' (the witness) refers to Allah and His angels, or alternatively to the conscience of man itself, while 'mashhud' (the witnessed) refers to the deeds of humanity. Al-Tabari notes that this emphasizes the comprehensive knowledge and accountability on the Day of Resurrection, when nothing remains hidden from divine justice.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Buruj is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam, addressing the polytheists of Mecca and emphasizing Allah's power and justice. This particular phrase appears in the opening oath-swearing section (verses 1-3) where Allah swears by the heavens, the night-comer (a bright star), and the concepts of witnessing, establishing the theme of divine omniscience and accountability that pervades the entire surah.
Related Hadiths
The concept is related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Every soul shall taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and good, and to Us you will be returned.' This emphasizes the witnessing of deeds and ultimate accountability. Additionally, the hadith regarding the recording angels in Sahih Muslim connects to this theme: 'The Noble Recording Angels know all that we do.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah is fully aware of all our actions, thoughts, and intentions—nothing escapes His knowledge. For modern readers, this should inspire conscious living and awareness that we will be held accountable for our deeds, encouraging us to act with integrity and righteousness in all circumstances.