سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 284
لِّلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَإِن تُبْدُوا۟ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿284﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
To Allâh belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your ownselves or conceal it, Allâh will call you to account for it. Then He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allâh is Able to do all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لِّلَّهِ
lillahi
To Allah (belongs)
مَا
mā
whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
فِى
fī
(is) in
ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ
l-arḍi
the earth
وَإِن
wa-in
And if
تُبْدُوا۟
tub'dū
you disclose
مَا
mā
what
فِىٓ
fī
(is) in
أَنفُسِكُمْ
anfusikum
yourselves
أَوْ
aw
or
تُخْفُوهُ
tukh'fūhu
you conceal it
يُحَاسِبْكُم
yuḥāsib'kum
will call you to account
بِهِ
bihi
for it
ٱللَّهُ ۖ
l-lahu
Allah
فَيَغْفِرُ
fayaghfiru
Then, He will forgive
لِمَن
liman
[to] whom
يَشَآءُ
yashāu
He wills
وَيُعَذِّبُ
wayuʿadhibu
and He will punish
مَن
man
whom
يَشَآءُ ۗ
yashāu
He wills
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌ
qadīrun
(is) All-Powerful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
284. To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth [413]. Whether you reveal what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it. Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allah is capable of all things.
[413]
No Accountability for Thoughts of the Heart:
In this verse, three attributes of Allah Almighty are mentioned: (i) Sovereignty, meaning He is the Owner of everything; (ii) Knowledge, meaning His knowledge is so vast that He knows even the secrets of hearts; (iii) Power, meaning He has complete authority to punish and to forgive, and these three attributes are explained in more detail in Ayat al-Kursi. The purpose of this is that, regarding the countless commands given about worship and dealings, a Muslim should neither resort to tricks and excuses in their compliance, nor to stubbornness and oppression. Rather, one should act according to Allah’s will out of fear of Him, because in any apparent or hidden matter, a person cannot attain salvation by disobeying Him. Hazrat Aliؓ says that when this verse was revealed, it made us sad; we thought that if even a sinful thought comes into someone’s heart, it would be accounted for, and then it is not known whether it would be forgiven or not, and this is beyond human control. Thus, the noble Companionsؓ complained to the Prophet ﷺ, so he said: Say! We have heard (Allah’s command) and we obey. The noble Companionsؓ did so, and then
﴿ اٰمَنَ الرَّسُوْلُ﴾
up to the next two verses were revealed, and
﴿ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾
abrogated that command. [ترمذي۔ كتاب التفسير۔۔۔] That is, accountability for thoughts arising in the heart was forgiven.
[413]
No Accountability for Thoughts of the Heart:
In this verse, three attributes of Allah Almighty are mentioned: (i) Sovereignty, meaning He is the Owner of everything; (ii) Knowledge, meaning His knowledge is so vast that He knows even the secrets of hearts; (iii) Power, meaning He has complete authority to punish and to forgive, and these three attributes are explained in more detail in Ayat al-Kursi. The purpose of this is that, regarding the countless commands given about worship and dealings, a Muslim should neither resort to tricks and excuses in their compliance, nor to stubbornness and oppression. Rather, one should act according to Allah’s will out of fear of Him, because in any apparent or hidden matter, a person cannot attain salvation by disobeying Him. Hazrat Aliؓ says that when this verse was revealed, it made us sad; we thought that if even a sinful thought comes into someone’s heart, it would be accounted for, and then it is not known whether it would be forgiven or not, and this is beyond human control. Thus, the noble Companionsؓ complained to the Prophet ﷺ, so he said: Say! We have heard (Allah’s command) and we obey. The noble Companionsؓ did so, and then
﴿ اٰمَنَ الرَّسُوْلُ﴾
up to the next two verses were revealed, and
﴿ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَا﴾
abrogated that command. [ترمذي۔ كتاب التفسير۔۔۔] That is, accountability for thoughts arising in the heart was forgiven.
