Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:10
سُورَةُ الرَّعۡدِ · Medinan · Verse 10 of 43
سَوَآءٌۭ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ ٱلْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِۦ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍۭ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِٱلنَّهَارِ
Translation
It makes no difference whether any of you speak secretly or aloud, whether you are hiding under cover of night or walking about in the day:
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Qur'anic Worlds
Let us ponder deeply on Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 10, a profound declaration about Allah's all-encompassing knowledge. This verse reminds us that nothing is hidden from Him, whether spoken or concealed, by day or by night. It connects us to the very World of Revelation, where these truths first descended upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions.
The All-Knowing Gaze
This ayah begins by declaring, "سَوَآءٌۭ مِّنكُم" (alike from among you). Allah, the Speaker, is addressing all of humanity, making it clear that His knowledge applies universally to every individual. Whether a person "أَسَرَّ ٱلْقَوْلَ" (speaks quietly, meaning in secret or to oneself) or "جَهَرَ بِهِۦ" (speaks aloud), it is all the same in Allah's sight. His hearing and knowledge are identical and uniform for both, as Mufti Shafi notes.
This principle extends beyond mere speech. The verse continues, "وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍۭ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِٱلنَّهَارِ" (and he who hides in the night and he who walks out in the day). "مُسْتَخْفٍ" refers to someone concealed by the darkness of night, perhaps for hidden deeds or thoughts. "سَارِبٌ" (from 'sarb' meaning a path or moving freely) describes someone openly visible in the daylight, pursuing their affairs. Al-Tabari, citing Ibn Abbas, even suggests "مستخفٍ بالليل وساربٌ بالنهار" could refer to a person of suspicion, hiding their intentions at night but appearing innocent by day. The essence is that all these states – hidden or manifest – are equally known to Allah.
In the World of Revelation
For the first audience hearing these words, this declaration would have been awe-inspiring and perhaps a stark warning. It established a fundamental truth about Allah, the "عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ" (Knower of the unseen and seen, the Great, the Most High) as the preceding verse (13:9) highlights. This perfect knowledge is not just an abstract concept; it has profound implications for human accountability.
Ibn Kathir reminds us of how the Companions understood this principle. Even Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) recounted a time when she could not hear parts of a woman's complaint to the Prophet (peace be upon him), yet Allah heard every word, revealing Surah Al-Mujadilah. This shows how intimately Allah's knowledge enveloped the lives and experiences of the early Muslim community.
This verse, therefore, serves to cultivate a deep sense of reverence and humility. Knowing that every thought, every whispered word, and every hidden action is fully apparent to Allah should reshape our inner and outer lives. As Sayyid Qutb observes, such specific details about Allah's knowledge deeply impact human consciousness, inspiring us to seek refuge in Him and to live with greater awareness of His ever-present gaze.
Source: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi, al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir, Sayyid Qutb.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), Ibn Kathir, Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:10 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:10 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.