وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا ٱلْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْنَا ٱلْمُسْتَـْٔخِرِينَ 24
Translations
And We have already known the preceding [generations] among you, and We have already known the later [ones to come].
Transliteration
Wa-laqad 'alimna al-mustaqaddimīna minkum wa-laqad 'alimna al-mustaʾkhirīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah affirms His complete knowledge of all generations of mankind—both those who came before and those who will come after the time of the Prophet. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this as a declaration of Allah's omniscience encompassing all of time, emphasizing that no human action escapes His awareness regardless of when it occurs. This ayah serves to remind believers of Divine accountability and the futility of attempting to hide deeds from the All-Knowing.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hijr, a Meccan surah addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who denied the Prophet's message. The broader context deals with Allah's refutation of polytheistic claims and affirmation of monotheism. The ayah fits within the surah's theme of establishing Allah's complete knowledge and power as evidence against those who deny Divine omniscience.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Allah knows what every soul will earn' (Quran 31:34), which the scholars connect to this ayah. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records that the Prophet emphasized no deed is hidden from Allah, reinforcing the concept of Divine knowledge presented here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's knowledge transcends time and space, making every action ultimately accountable before Him. It should inspire consciousness of Divine observation (taqwa) in our daily lives, knowing that sincerity and integrity matter eternally regardless of worldly consequences.