Tafseer of Hud · Hud · 11:31
And I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allah or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel, nor do I say of those upon whom your eyes look down that Allah will never grant them any good. Allah is most knowing of what is within their souls. Indeed, I would then be among the wrongdoers."
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And I do not say to you that the treasuries of Allah are with me
The explanation of the word of Allah the Exalted: وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ — this connects to the word: وَيَا قَوْمِ لا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ("And O my people, I ask of you no reward for it"). And the meaning of the sentence is: And O my people, I ask of you no reward for it, and I do not say to you that the treasuries of Allah, which are exhausted by nothing, are with me, so that I would invite you to follow me in exchange for that, in order to give you some of it.
I do not know the unseen
وَلا أَعْلَمُ — likewise الْغَيْبَ — by which is meant the hidden secrets of the servants. For only Allah knows that. So that I would claim divinity for myself and call you to worship me.
And I do not say to you that I am an angel
وَلا أَقُولُ — likewise إِنِّي مَلَكٌ — among the angels, sent to you, so that I would be a liar in my claim; rather I am a human being as you say — I have been commanded to call you to Allah, and I have conveyed to you that with which I was sent.
And I do not say to those whom your eyes disdain that Allah will not give them any good
وَلا أَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ تَزْدَرِي أَعْيُنُكُمْ لَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا — He says: And I do not say to those who have followed me and have believed in Allah and have professed His oneness — those whom your eyes disdain and of whom you say that they are the lowest among you: Allah will give you no good, namely the faith in Allah.
Allah knows best what is in their souls
اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ — He says: Allah knows best what is hidden in their breasts and of what their hearts are convinced. He is the most entitled to decide concerning their affair. As for me, what concerns me of them is only what they have made open and manifest. They have made manifest the faith in Allah and have followed me, so I do not drive them away nor deem that permissible.
I would then be among the wrongdoers
إِنِّي إِذًا لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ — He says: If I were to say to those who have made manifest the faith in Allah and have confirmed me: Allah will give you no good — while I pass a judgment upon their inner state contrary to what their tongues have shown me, without my having knowledge of what is in their souls — and were to drive them away thereby, then I would be among those who do what is not theirs to do — those who transgress the bounds of what Allah has commanded them. And that is the wrongdoing (ẓulm).
And the interpreters of the Qurʾān have expressed views in agreement with what we have said. Mention of who said this:
13991 — Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: Al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj concerning the word: وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ which are exhausted by nothing, so that I would merely invite you to follow me in order to give you some of it. وَلا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ who has descended from heaven with a message — I am only a human being like you. وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ And I do not say: Follow me on the basis of knowledge of the unseen.
