Surah An-Naml (27) — Ayah 25

(Ayah 25) ➊ {اَلَّا يَسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ … : ’’ الْخَبْءَ ‘‘} is a verbal noun in the meaning of a passive participle {’’اَلْمَخْبُوْئُ ‘‘}, a hidden thing, that is, why do these people not prostrate to Allah who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth. The second translation of this verse is the same as mentioned above: so that they do not prostrate to Allah who brings forth the hidden things in the heavens and the earth. The hoopoe presented three magnificent proofs for this fundamental reality that the only true deity worthy of worship is Allah alone, without partner, and no one else is worthy of prostration. The first is that He alone brings forth the hidden and concealed things of the heavens and the earth. Among the hidden things of the heavens are included the sun, moon, stars, planets, rain, wind, lightning, etc., and among the hidden things of the earth are all plants, trees, rivers, springs, underground water, oil, gas, and countless minerals. Some scholars have said that the hoopoe’s food is generally those insects that are hidden under the bark of trees or beneath the earth. This seemingly insignificant bird gave the proof of Allah’s oneness according to its own understanding and experience: that the only one worthy of worship and prostration is Allah, who provides every creature access to its hidden sustenance. The sun, which does not even have respite from its own orbit, nor has it created anything that it would have knowledge or authority to conceal or reveal, how could it be worthy of worship or prostration? Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “The hoopoe’s sustenance is to eat insects by extracting them from the sand, it does not eat grain nor fruit, its work is with this very power of Allah.”

➋ {وَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُوْنَ وَ مَا تُعْلِنُوْنَ:} This is the second proof for prostrating to Allah alone, that is, the one worthy of prostration is the One whose knowledge is so vast that not only does He know the hidden forces and things of the heavens and the earth, but He also knows everything that you reveal or keep hidden. What knowledge does the sun or any other creature have of anyone’s apparent or hidden conditions that it could be worthy of prostration?

25-1. That is, He sends down rain from the sky and brings forth from the earth its hidden things—plants, minerals, and other earthly treasures—and makes them manifest and brings them out.

They do not prostrate to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and Who knows whatever you conceal [26] and whatever you reveal.

[26] Some commentators have considered verses 25 and 26 as a continuation of the hoopoe's response, while others have regarded them as an appropriate addition from Allah Almighty to the hoopoe's speech. In this verse: ﴿يَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ﴾, the second opinion seems more correct.

The Literal Meaning of the Word ﴿خَب﴾:

﴿خب﴾ means a hidden and concealed treasure (Mufradat al-Quran), and it refers to such a hidden and concealed treasure that no one knew about beforehand. ﴿خبأ﴾ means to keep something hidden, and khaba means to ask someone a riddle, puzzle, or enigma. ﴿خب الارض﴾ means the vegetation of the earth that has not yet appeared. power, growth, and ﴿خب السماء﴾ means rain, and akhraja ﴿خب السماء خب الارض﴾ means the rain from the sky caused growth on the earth and made plants sprout. Similarly, if oil, combustible gases, or minerals, etc., emerge from the earth, all these things are included in ﴿خب الارض﴾. And the meaning of this verse is that the One worthy of prostration is He who, by bringing forth the hidden things and concealed powers of the earth and sky, provides sustenance for them. Not the sun or other lifeless or created and needy things like it. Also, the One worthy of prostration is He whose knowledge is so vast that He not only knows the hidden powers and things of the earth and sky, but is also fully aware of all your apparent and hidden deeds.