Surah Ta-Ha 20:98
سُورَةُ طه · Meccan · Verse 98 of 135
إِنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۭا
Translation
[People], your true god is the One God- there is no god but Him- whose knowledge embraces everything.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, spoken by Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) to his community after the incident of the golden calf, is a profound declaration of faith. It's a moment of refocusing, turning hearts back to the singular truth of Allah's existence and His boundless knowledge. Musa is not just addressing the instigator, the Samiri, but the entire nation, reminding them of the fundamental realities of their Creator.
The Exclusive Truth
The verse begins with the powerful particle "إِنَّمَا" (Innāma), which means "verily" or "only." This immediately establishes a tone of exclusivity and certainty. It's not *one* of your gods, but "إِلَٰهُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ" (your God is *only* Allah). This is further affirmed by the timeless declaration, "لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ" (there is no god but He). These words are the very essence of monotheism, firmly rejecting any partners to Allah in divinity or worship. Ibn Ashur notes that this shift in address, from the individual Samiri to the entire community, was a way for Musa to humbly redirect them from their error and teach them the true attributes of God.
All-Encompassing Knowledge
The verse then concludes with a profound statement about Allah's attribute: "وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۭا" (His knowledge encompasses all things). The Arabic word "وَسِعَ" (wasi'a) literally means "it encompassed" or "extended wide." Ibn Ashur beautifully explains this as a metaphor for complete and total inclusion, like a vast container that can hold countless items. It conveys that Allah's knowledge is not just extensive, but infinitely comprehensive, leaving no room for anything to be outside of it.
The phrase "كُلَّ شَىْءٍ" (kulla shay'in), meaning "all things," reinforces this absolute universality. Nothing is too big, too small, too hidden, or too insignificant to escape His perfect awareness.
The final word, "عِلْمًۭا" ('ilmā, meaning "as knowledge"), is a grammatical device called a *tamīz*. Scholars like al-Zamakhshari and Ibn Ashur explain that this phrasing emphasizes the *aspect* of His encompassment. It's as if the verse is saying, "His knowledge has encompassed all things." This unique construction highlights that the vastness is specifically in His attribute of Knowledge itself. It implies that His knowledge doesn't just touch upon everything, but penetrates and fully grasps every detail. As al-Razi mentions, Allah knows who truly worships Him and who does not, making His knowledge deeply relevant to our actions and intentions.
This verse, therefore, is a concise yet powerful reminder from Allah, through Musa, of His exclusive right to be worshipped and His perfect, all-encompassing knowledge that sees, hears, and knows every single thing.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ta-Ha 20:98 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ta-Ha 20:98 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.