Surah Al-Anbiya 21:4
سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ · Meccan · Verse 4 of 112
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
Translation
He said, ‘My Lord knows everything that is said in the heavens and the earth: He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens with the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, responding to those who were secretly plotting and questioning his message. It's a powerful declaration, affirming Allah's absolute knowledge and setting a tone of warning and reassurance.
The Prophet's Declared Truth
The verse begins with قَالَ رَبِّى (Qāla Rabbī), meaning "My Lord said," or, as some readings have it, قُلْ رَبِّى (Qul Rabbī), "Say, My Lord." As Ibn Ashur and al-Razi point out, both readings ultimately convey the same message: the Prophet, by Allah's command, declared this truth to the disbelievers. It's a direct, divinely inspired response to their secret whispers, making it clear that no counsel, however hushed, escapes the Creator's awareness.
Beyond the Whisper: "Al-Qawl"
The core of this verse's wording lies in the choice of the Arabic word الْقَوْلَ (al-Qawl), meaning "speech" or "statement." The disbelievers had been "whispering secretly" (mentioned in the previous verse, 21:3). One might expect the verse to say "He knows the secret." However, scholars like al-Zamakhshari, Ibn Ashur, and al-Razi highlight why "al-Qawl" is far more profound here. "Al-Qawl" is a general term encompassing both secret and open speech. By using this broader word, Allah emphasizes that He knows their secrets *and* everything else that is said. This makes the statement more comprehensive and a stronger warning. It implies: "If He knows all speech, both open and hidden, then your secrets are certainly known to Him, and much more." This choice underscores Allah's absolute and all-encompassing knowledge, leaving no room for anyone to hide their words or intentions.
The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing
The verse concludes with وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ (Wa Huwa as-Samee' al-Aleem), "And He is The All-Hearing, The All-Knowing." These Divine Names perfectly complement the message. Al-Razi observes that "As-Samee'" (The All-Hearing) often precedes "Al-Aleem" (The All-Knowing) when speech is the subject, because hearing naturally comes before understanding. Allah first hears all speech, whether in the vastness of the heavens or on the earth, and then knows its full meaning and context. This sequence reinforces that nothing can be uttered, no matter how faintly, without Allah hearing it, and nothing can be conceived without Him knowing it fully. It's a reminder of Allah's perfect awareness, encompassing every sound, every word, and every thought, for all time.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:4 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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