كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ ٱلْيَقِينِ 5
Translations
No! If you only knew with knowledge of certainty...
Transliteration
Kalla law ta'lamoon 'ilma al-yaqin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's emphatic response to those preoccupied with worldly competition and material gain, asserting that if they truly possessed certain knowledge ('ilm al-yaqin - the knowledge of certainty), they would not be so absorbed in their disputes over wealth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a gentle rebuke followed by a warning about the reality of the Hereafter that awaits them, emphasizing that true knowledge is recognition of Allah's omniscience and the inevitability of the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Takathur addresses the heedlessness of mankind in pursuing worldly abundance and rival competition over material possessions. This ayah comes as a turning point in the surah where Allah shifts from describing human preoccupation to offering them a wake-up call, urging them toward proper understanding of divine truth and the transient nature of worldly concerns.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best wealth is a remembering tongue, a grateful heart, and a believing wife who helps him in his faith' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet taught that 'ilm al-yaqin (certain knowledge) regarding the Hereafter protects one from being deceived by the fleeting attractions of this world (contextually related in Islamic scholarship).
Themes
Key Lesson
True certainty in Allah's knowledge and the reality of the afterlife serves as the ultimate antidote to excessive materialism and worldly competition. Believers should cultivate 'ilm al-yaqin through Quranic reflection and remembrance, allowing this certain knowledge to reorient their priorities away from trivial worldly disputes toward meaningful spiritual development.