Surah Al-Baqarah 2:77
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 77 of 286
أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ
Translation
Do they not know that God is well aware of what they conceal and what they reveal?
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse invites us to pause and reflect on Allah's profound and all-encompassing knowledge, especially in light of the actions of some among the Children of Israel who were being addressed. It serves as a powerful reminder about the futility of hypocrisy and concealment.
The Nature of the Question
The verse opens with "أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ" (Awa la ya'lamun), which translates to "Do they not know?" This isn't a simple question seeking information. Rather, as noted by scholars like al-Jalalayn, Mahmud Safi, and Ibn Ashur, the "أ" (a), the interrogative particle, functions here as a rhetorical device for *taqreer* (affirmation) or *tawbeekh* (reproach). It's as if Allah is saying, "Surely, they already know this truth, so why do they behave as if they don't?" This implies a deliberate disregard for a known reality, making the address a stern but merciful reminder.
The use of "يَعْلَمُونَ" (ya'lamun), the present tense verb for "they know," is also significant. Ibn Ashur points out that this choice over the past tense ("عَلِمُوا" – they knew) suggests a continuous state of knowledge. It underlines that this isn't a truth they might have forgotten, but one they perpetually possess, yet choose to ignore in their conduct.
Allah's Comprehensive Knowledge
The verse then specifies the object of this undeniable knowledge: "أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ" (anna Allaha ya'lamu ma yusirruna wa ma yu'linun), meaning "that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal." The particle "أَنَّ" (anna), meaning "indeed" or "that," reinforces the absolute certainty of Allah's knowledge.
The core of this divine statement is beautifully expressed through the powerful contrast between "يُسِرُّونَ" (yusirruna – what they conceal) and "يُعْلِنُونَ" (yu'linun – what they reveal). This linguistic pairing covers the entirety of human existence. It means every secret thought, every hidden intention, every whisper, every private action, alongside every public statement, every visible deed, and every outward display, is known to Allah. Al-Zamakhshari connects this directly to the hypocrisy previously mentioned, where some would pretend faith while harboring disbelief.
This vivid contrast ensures that no aspect of their being, no corner of their actions, can be hidden from the Creator. The verse makes it clear that attempts to deceive, manipulate, or conceal the truth are ultimately futile before Allah. It is a profound call to sincerity and a powerful affirmation of divine omnipresence and omniscience, urging us to align our inner and outer selves with what pleases our Lord.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:77 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
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