سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 77

The Cow · Medinan · Juz 1 · Page 12

أَوَلَا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ﴿77﴾
Know they (Jews) not that Allâh knows what they conceal and what they reveal?
أَوَلَا awalā Do not
يَعْلَمُونَ yaʿlamūna they know
أَنَّ anna that
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
يَعْلَمُ yaʿlamu knows
مَا what
يُسِرُّونَ yusirrūna they conceal
وَمَا wamā and what
يُعْلِنُونَ yuʿ'linūna they declare

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

After describing the stubbornness and rebellion of the Children of Israel, now their different groups are being mentioned. In this verse, the condition of the common people is described. (Razi) "Ummi" is one who does not know how to read or write, and { ”اَمَانِيَّ“ ”اُمْنِيَّةٌ“ } is the plural of "umniyyah," which means desires or fabricated traditions, that is, among the Jews there is a group which is of the common people and is illiterate, they have no knowledge of {”الْكِتٰبَ“ } i.e. the Torah, but they harbor in their hearts some baseless kinds of desires, for example, that because of their elders Allah will surely forgive them, or that no one except the Jews will enter Paradise, etc., they have adopted beliefs in various kinds of superstitions. These are their false desires or fabricated stories which they have heard. (Tarjuman)

One meaning of {”اُمْنِيَّةٌ“} is also recitation, as: «{ اِلَّاۤ اِذَا تَمَنّٰۤى اَلْقَى الشَّيْطٰنُ فِيْۤ اُمْنِيَّتِهٖ [ الحج : ۵۲ ] has also been translated as recitation. In this case, the meaning would be that they can only recite, but they have no knowledge of its meaning, just as nowadays most Muslims, even if they are memorizers of the Quran, can only recite, but are completely unaware of the meaning. Such reading is as good as not reading at all, therefore it is not contrary to their being "Ummi".

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

77. 1 Allah Ta'ala says to tell them that Allah has knowledge of everything and can make all matters apparent to the Muslims even without you informing them.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

Do they (the Jews) not know [91] that Allah knows whatever they conceal and whatever they reveal?

[91] In other words, these Jewish scholars thought that Allah would only come to know of this reality on the Day of Judgment if the Muslims informed Him, otherwise not. Their understanding of Allah is so weak that they are not even certain that Allah is fully aware of all their open and hidden matters, and even of those things they are now saying to their fellow Jews.