سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْلٰي
Surah Al-A'laa (87) — Ayah 7
إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ ﴿7﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Except what Allâh may will. He knows what is apparent and what is hidden.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِلَّا
illā
Except
مَا
mā
what
شَآءَ
shāa
wills
ٱللَّهُ ۚ
l-lahu
Allah
إِنَّهُۥ
innahu
Indeed, He
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knows
ٱلْجَهْرَ
l-jahra
the manifest
وَمَا
wamā
and what
يَخْفَىٰ
yakhfā
is hidden
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 7) ➊ { اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ:} That is, Allah Almighty causes to forget whatever He wills. Sometimes some verses were abrogated in such a way that they were made to be forgotten by you (peace be upon him), as He said: « مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ اٰيَةٍ اَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَاْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَاۤ اَوْ مِثْلِهَا » [ البقرۃ : ۱۰۶ ] “Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or one similar to it.”
➋ {اِنَّهٗ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ وَ مَا يَخْفٰى:} “He knows the open and the hidden things.” Allah Almighty has stated this in several places in the Noble Qur’an, that He knows all open and hidden things; whether something is said aloud, quietly, or is completely concealed, He knows everything. (See: Ra’d: 10; Ta Ha: 7; An’am: 3; Anbiya: 110; Mulk: 13) Ibn Jawzi’s teacher, Wazir Ibn Hubayrah, says that I pondered much over this matter: hidden things are indeed known only to Allah Almighty, but the things said aloud, we also know and understand—so why does Allah Almighty mention knowing these things as a special attribute of His? Then I understood that if, at one time, many people start speaking loudly, we cannot make anything out; it is only the attribute of Allah Almighty that He hears all the loud words of all creation and also the hidden ones. The wisdom in mentioning this attribute at this place seems to be that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is being instructed that when Jibreel (peace be upon him) recites, you should not recite along with him to memorize; if you recite along with him, it will be difficult to understand what he is saying. This is only the attribute of Allah that whether the words are spoken aloud, even by millions of people, or are hidden, He knows them all.
➋ {اِنَّهٗ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ وَ مَا يَخْفٰى:} “He knows the open and the hidden things.” Allah Almighty has stated this in several places in the Noble Qur’an, that He knows all open and hidden things; whether something is said aloud, quietly, or is completely concealed, He knows everything. (See: Ra’d: 10; Ta Ha: 7; An’am: 3; Anbiya: 110; Mulk: 13) Ibn Jawzi’s teacher, Wazir Ibn Hubayrah, says that I pondered much over this matter: hidden things are indeed known only to Allah Almighty, but the things said aloud, we also know and understand—so why does Allah Almighty mention knowing these things as a special attribute of His? Then I understood that if, at one time, many people start speaking loudly, we cannot make anything out; it is only the attribute of Allah Almighty that He hears all the loud words of all creation and also the hidden ones. The wisdom in mentioning this attribute at this place seems to be that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is being instructed that when Jibreel (peace be upon him) recites, you should not recite along with him to memorize; if you recite along with him, it will be difficult to understand what he is saying. This is only the attribute of Allah that whether the words are spoken aloud, even by millions of people, or are hidden, He knows them all.
