وَمَا مِنْ غَآئِبَةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مُّبِينٍ 75
Translations
And there is nothing concealed within the heaven and the earth except that it is in a clear Register.
Transliteration
Wa maa min ghaa'ibatin fee as-samaa'i wa al-ardi illa fee kitaabin mubeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that nothing hidden in the heavens and earth exists outside of Allah's complete knowledge and divine record (the Preserved Tablet - al-Lawh al-Mahfuz). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a declaration of Allah's absolute omniscience—all past, present, and future events are recorded and known by Him. The phrase 'kitaab mubeen' (clear/manifest book) emphasizes that this divine knowledge is not merely internal but documented and clear, demonstrating the certainty and immutability of Allah's decree.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Naml is a Meccan surah dealing with divine signs and the certainty of the Hereafter. This ayah appears in the context of affirming Allah's knowledge and power over all creation, particularly in response to disbelievers who deny resurrection and divine justice. It serves to reassure believers of Allah's complete awareness of all deeds and intentions.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Allah wrote the measures of all things fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth' (Sahih Muslim 2653). Additionally, the ayah relates to Quranic teachings on divine knowledge found in Surah Al-Hajj 22:70: 'Do you not know that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on earth?'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah provides profound spiritual comfort: nothing escapes Allah's knowledge or record, so believers should trust that all injustices will be accounted for and all good deeds recorded. It should motivate ethical consciousness—knowing that our hidden intentions and concealed actions are witnessed by Allah.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِعِبَادِهِۦ لَخَبِيرٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
And that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], of the Book is the truth, confirming what was before it. Indeed Allāh, of His servants, is Aware and Seeing.
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "Would you acquaint Allāh with your religion while Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allāh is Knowing of all things?"
لَن تَنفَعَكُمْ أَرْحَامُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُكُمْ ۚ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Never will your relatives or your children benefit you; the Day of Resurrection He will judge between you. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.