سُوْرَةُ طٰهٰ
Surah Taa-Haa (20) — Ayah 52
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّى وَلَا يَنسَى ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
[Mûsâ (Moses)] said: "The knowledge thereof is with my Lord, in a Record. My Lord neither errs nor He forgets."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالَ
qāla
He said
عِلْمُهَا
ʿil'muhā
Its knowledge
عِندَ
ʿinda
(is) with
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
فِى
fī
in
كِتَـٰبٍۢ ۖ
kitābin
a Record
لَّا
lā
Not
يَضِلُّ
yaḍillu
errs
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
وَلَا
walā
and not
يَنسَى
yansā
forgets
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah 52) ➊ {قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّيْ :} That is, I have no argument about their condition; they have reached their Lord, with whom the record of all their deeds and intentions exists. They will be rewarded exactly according to their deeds. We should be concerned about our own condition—how can we save ourselves from becoming deserving of punishment? This is a most wise answer, which is also correct, and thus Pharaoh was not successful in his objective.
➋ { فِيْ كِتٰبٍ لَا يَضِلُّ رَبِّيْ وَ لَا يَنْسَى :} Since written statements are considered more reliable, Allah Almighty appointed noble scribes to complete the argument against people, who are preparing the record for each person. At the same time, it has been clarified that the purpose of writing in the book is not that Allah needs writing to avoid error or forgetfulness—no! Rather, Allah is free from both of these deficiencies, as He is from every deficiency. There is also a subtle rebuke in this, because there is no need to say that the Creator and Guide of everything neither errs nor forgets. In fact, this is being said to Pharaoh: You, in whose nature wandering and forgetfulness have been placed—did you not feel any shame in claiming to be the Most High Lord? Glory be to Allah!
Idols may desire divinity,
the grandeur belongs to Your Majesty.
➋ { فِيْ كِتٰبٍ لَا يَضِلُّ رَبِّيْ وَ لَا يَنْسَى :} Since written statements are considered more reliable, Allah Almighty appointed noble scribes to complete the argument against people, who are preparing the record for each person. At the same time, it has been clarified that the purpose of writing in the book is not that Allah needs writing to avoid error or forgetfulness—no! Rather, Allah is free from both of these deficiencies, as He is from every deficiency. There is also a subtle rebuke in this, because there is no need to say that the Creator and Guide of everything neither errs nor forgets. In fact, this is being said to Pharaoh: You, in whose nature wandering and forgetfulness have been placed—did you not feel any shame in claiming to be the Most High Lord? Glory be to Allah!
Idols may desire divinity,
the grandeur belongs to Your Majesty.
