مَا كَانَ لِىَ مِنْ عِلْمٍۭ بِٱلْمَلَإِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰٓ إِذْ يَخْتَصِمُونَ 69
Translations
I had no knowledge of the exalted assembly [of angels] when they were disputing [the creation of Adam].
Transliteration
Mā kāna lī min 'ilmin bil-mala'i al-a'lā idh yakhtasimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Muhammad's declaration that he had no knowledge of the dispute that occurred among the angels in the highest assembly (al-mala' al-a'lā) when they discussed the creation of mankind. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as affirming the Prophet's honesty and the limits of human knowledge—the Prophet only knows what Allah has revealed to him, and disputes among the angels remain in the unseen realm beyond his awareness. This statement emphasizes divine revelation as the sole source of the Prophet's knowledge about metaphysical matters.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Sad, a Meccan chapter addressing various theological themes. The immediate context (verses 67-85) deals with the creation of Adam and the angels' dispute concerning his worthiness as Allah's khalifah (vicegerent) on Earth. The ayah serves to clarify that the Prophet's knowledge comes exclusively from divine revelation, not from personal observation or reasoning about celestial matters.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3232) where the Prophet said, 'I do not know the unseen except what Allah has informed me,' directly supports this ayah's principle. Additionally, Surah 72:26-27 complements this theme, stating that Allah makes none to know the unseen except those whom He chooses as messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true knowledge of metaphysical realities belongs only to Allah, and we should not speculate about matters of the unseen without divine guidance. It also reinforces the Prophet's credibility—he speaks only what Allah has revealed, reminding us to distinguish between divine truth and human opinion in religious matters.