Tafseer of Taa-Haa · Taa-Haa · 20:110
Allah knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, but they do not encompass it in knowledge.
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.
His word يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ — Allah the Exalted says: Your Lord, O Muḥammad, knows what lies before them — that is to say: these people who follow the Caller — concerning the matters of the Resurrection, and that toward which they will come forth of reward and punishment; وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ — He says: and He knows the matters of what they have left behind them of the affairs of this present life.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ — concerning the matter of the Hour — (»and what is behind them«) — concerning the matter of the present life.
His word وَلا يُحِيطُونَ بِهِ عِلْمًا — Allah the Exalted says: His creatures do not encompass Him with knowledge. The meaning of the words is: He encompasses His servants with knowledge, and His servants do not encompass Him with knowledge. Some claimed that the meaning of this is: Allah knows what is before His angels and what is behind them, and that His angels do not encompass with knowledge what is before themselves and what is behind them. And they said: this was conveyed thus to those who worshipped the angels, so that they would know that the angels likewise do not know that — what is before them and what is behind them — and thus chastising and rebuking them: for whoever is so, how can he be worshipped? Worship befits only Him from whom nothing is hidden in the earth nor in the heaven.
