هُوَ ٱلْأَوَّلُ وَٱلْـَٔاخِرُ وَٱلظَّـٰهِرُ وَٱلْبَاطِنُ ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 3
Translations
He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things, Knowing.
Transliteration
Huwa al-awwalu wa-al-akhiru wa-al-zahiru wa-al-batinu wa-huwa bi-kulli shay'in alimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes four essential divine attributes of Allah: He is Al-Awwal (The First), Al-Akhir (The Last), Al-Zahir (The Manifest/Outward), and Al-Batin (The Hidden/Inward). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these attributes establish that Allah existed before all creation, will remain after all creation, is evident in His signs and creation, and possesses knowledge of all hidden matters. The ayah concludes that Allah is All-Knowing of all things, emphasizing His absolute omniscience and complete awareness of the visible and invisible realms.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan surah that emphasizes Allah's sovereignty and the transient nature of worldly life. This particular ayah appears in the opening section of the surah where Allah establishes His absolute divine attributes as the foundation for understanding His complete dominion over all existence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught a supplication incorporating these four attributes: 'Allahumma anta al-awwal falaisa qablaka shay', wa anta al-akhir falaisa ba'daka shay'' (O Allah, You are The First, nothing came before You; You are The Last, nothing comes after You) - reported in Sahih Muslim. Additionally, in Jami' at-Tirmidhi, the Prophet emphasized the importance of reflecting upon Allah's hidden knowledge and manifest signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize Allah's complete dominion over past, present, and future, and to trust in His infinite knowledge of all matters both seen and unseen. It encourages contemplation of divine attributes as a means to strengthen faith and find peace in the certainty that nothing escapes Allah's awareness and control.