رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ 38
Translations
Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allāh on the earth or in the heaven.
Transliteration
Rabbana innaka ta'lamu ma nukhfi wa ma nu'lin, wa ma yakhfa 'alallahi min shay'in fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents Prophet Ibrahim's supplication acknowledging Allah's complete and absolute knowledge of all things—both hidden and manifest. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this statement reflects Ibrahim's humility and awareness that nothing escapes Allah's omniscience, whether on earth or in the heavens. The ayah establishes the theological principle of Allah's all-encompassing knowledge ('ilm) as a foundation for sincere worship and accountability.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Ibrahim's prayer at the construction of the Ka'bah (14:35-41). It appears after Ibrahim invokes Allah to accept the building of the Sacred House and make it a place of pilgrimage. The broader context shows Ibrahim's consciousness that his actions and intentions are known to Allah, leading him to appeal to divine knowledge as he makes his supplications.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant expects of Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), indicating Allah's knowledge of intentions. Also relevant is the hadith on ihsan from Muslim: 'Worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, surely He sees you.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that since Allah knows all our hidden thoughts, intentions, and deeds—whether concealed or revealed—we should cultivate sincerity in worship and moral integrity in all aspects of life, knowing that nothing escapes divine scrutiny.
Related Ayahs
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.
وَحُصِّلَ مَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ
And that within the breasts is obtained,
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Indeed, [O Muḥammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
وَقَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلْكُفَّـٰرُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
And those before them had plotted, but to Allāh belongs the plan entirely. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will know for whom is the final home.