Tafseer of The Light · An-Noor · 24:64
Unquestionably, to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and He will inform them of what they have done. And Allah is Knowing of all things.
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.
Allah the Exalted says: know that the dominion (mulk) of all the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah. He says: it is not fitting that a possession should disobey the command of its owner and be defiant toward him, such that it would thereby deserve punishment. He says: likewise it is not fitting for you, O people, to defy your Lord — who is your Owner; obey Him, comply with His command, and do not depart from His Messenger when you are with him in a communal matter, except with his permission.
His word قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ ("He surely knows what state you are upon"): the substance of your obedience to Him in what He has commanded you and forbidden you in this respect — as Yūnus also related to me: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ : "your conduct in this also" — وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ ("and the Day when they are returned to Him"): that is, on the Day when those who transgress His command are returned to Allah — فَيُنَبِّئُهُمْ ("then He will inform them"): that is, then He will at that moment make known to them — بِمَا عَمِلُوا ("what they have done") in the worldly life — then He will requite them for what they have sent ahead therein of disobedience toward their Lord — وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ("and Allah is of all things fully Knowing"): that is, Allah has knowledge of everything that you and others have performed, and all else besides — nothing is hidden from Him; He encompasses the whole, and He will give every worker among you, on the Day when you are returned to Him, his rightful recompense for his work.
