كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا 91
Translations
Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.
Transliteration
Kathalika wa qad ahatayna bima ladayhi khubraa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes the account of Dhul-Qarnayn's encounter with Gog and Magog (Ya'juj wa Ma'juj), stating that Allah has encompassed all knowledge of what is with him - referring to his resources, treasures, and affairs. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this phrase emphasizes Allah's complete knowledge and awareness of all that Dhul-Qarnayn possessed, indicating Divine oversight of his endeavors and the ultimate sufficiency of his provisions for the task of building the wall.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (Surah Al-Kahf, verses 83-101), one of the three main stories in this Meccan surah. The context describes Dhul-Qarnayn's journey and his construction of a wall against Gog and Magog, demonstrating how Allah provides wisdom and means to those who seek His help and use their capabilities righteously.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the broader theme relates to Sahih Bukhari's hadith on knowledge: 'The best of knowledge is knowing Allah's attributes and His complete awareness of all creation.' The ayah emphasizes Allah's Ilm (omniscience) as referenced in numerous hadiths about Divine knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that when we undertake righteous works and turn to Allah for guidance, He provides us with all necessary knowledge and resources to succeed. We should trust in Allah's complete awareness of our circumstances and capabilities, knowing that He sees and knows all we possess and all we need.