ذَٰلِكَ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ 6
Translations
That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,
Transliteration
Dhālik 'ālim al-ghayb wa-al-shahādah al-'azīz al-rahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the Knower of both the unseen (al-ghayb) and the seen (al-shahādah)—all hidden realities and manifest realities are known to Him completely. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this attribute demonstrates Allah's perfect knowledge encompassing past, present, and future, while the epithets 'al-'Azīz' (the Mighty/Invincible) and 'al-Rahīm' (the Merciful) together show that His omniscience is paired with both power and compassion, assuring believers that nothing escapes His awareness and judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah As-Sajdah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the polytheists rejected the message of the Quran. This ayah appears in the context of describing Allah's creative power over six days and His establishment of the Throne, serving to reinforce the believers' confidence in Allah's absolute knowledge and control during a time of persecution and doubt.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Nothing is hidden from Allah in the earth or in the sky' (related themes in Sunan An-Nasa'i 8/127). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet teaches that Allah's knowledge encompasses all things: 'Allah wrote the destiny of all creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no secret thought, hidden intention, or unseen action escapes Allah's knowledge, which should inspire both accountability in our deeds and comfort in trusting His perfect justice and merciful judgment. The combination of divine might and mercy reminds us that Allah's omniscience is exercised with both power to enforce justice and compassion toward His creation.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُۥ
And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَـٰلِمُ غَيْبِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Indeed, Allāh is Knower of the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَتَرَى ٱلْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِىَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِ ۚ صُنْعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And you see the mountains, thinking them motionless, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allāh, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Aware of that which you do.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ فَمِنكُمْ كَافِرٌ وَمِنكُم مُّؤْمِنٌ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
It is He who created you, and among you is the disbeliever, and among you is the believer. And Allāh, of what you do, is Seeing.