قُلْ أَنزَلَهُ ٱلَّذِى يَعْلَمُ ٱلسِّرَّ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا 6
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "It has been revealed by He who knows [every] secret within the heavens and the earth. Indeed, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful."
Transliteration
Qul anzalahu alladhee ya'lamu as-sirra fi as-samawati wa-al-ard. Innahu kana ghafuran rahima.
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to respond to the disbelievers' accusations about the Qur'an by asserting that Allah, who knows all secrets in the heavens and the earth, has revealed it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this is a powerful refutation of the Meccan polytheists' claim that the Qur'an was fabricated, emphasizing that only the All-Knowing God could produce such a comprehensive revelation containing knowledge of unseen matters. The ayah concludes by highlighting Allah's attributes of forgiveness and mercy, suggesting that even those who reject this truth have the opportunity to repent.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan, which was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. The surah addresses various objections raised by the Quraysh against the Qur'an and prophecy, and this particular ayah directly counters their claim that Muhammad invented the Qur'an by appealing to Allah's comprehensive knowledge as evidence of divine revelation.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6:3635) where the Prophet said, 'The Qur'an was revealed in seven dialects, all of its versions are correct' relates to the divine preservation and knowledge behind the Qur'an's revelation. Additionally, Jami' at-Tirmidhi contains traditions about the Qur'an being a guidance from Allah, reinforcing this ayah's theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that the Qur'an's authenticity and divine origin are beyond dispute when we recognize Allah's infinite knowledge and wisdom, and it invites us to approach truth with the understanding that our Creator's knowledge encompasses all things seen and unseen, offering us guidance and mercy.
Related Ayahs
فَقَدْ كَذَّبُوكُم بِمَا تَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَسْتَطِيعُونَ صَرْفًا وَلَا نَصْرًا ۚ وَمَن يَظْلِم مِّنكُمْ نُذِقْهُ عَذَابًا كَبِيرًا
So they will deny you, [disbelievers], in what you say, and you cannot avert [punishment] or [find] help. And whoever commits injustice among you - We will make him taste a great punishment.
وَقَالُوا۟ مَالِ هَـٰذَا ٱلرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِى فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۙ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُۥ نَذِيرًا
And they say, "What is this messenger that eats food and walks in the markets? Why was there not sent down to him an angel so he would be with him a warner?
أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ ۚ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا
Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not except like livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way.
قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا
They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."