Verse 6:60 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them but He. And He knows whatsoever is in the land and in the sea. And there falls not a leaf but He knows it; nor is there a grain in the deep darkness of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but is recorded in a clear Book.

English - Five Volume Translation

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them but He. And He knows whatsoever is in the land and in the sea. And there falls not a leaf but He knows it; nor is there a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but is recorded in a clear Book.[805]

Commentary:

This verse gives a further reason why the work of punishment must remain in the hands of God; it is God alone with Whom are the keys of the unseen, i.e. it is He alone Who knows the unseen. None but He knows the secrets of men’s hearts and, therefore, He alone is in a position to punish.

The expressions "land", "sea", "falling of a leaf", "grain in the darkness of the earth," and "green or dry" are all descriptive of the various conditions of man. The "sea", according to the Arab conception, is typical of hardships, whereas "land" symbolizes ease and comfort. Similarly, "the falling of a leaf" represents the actions of man that are rendered vain and fruitless; whereas the "grain in the darkness of the earth," if left unprotected, may become lost just as virtue, if left uncared for, may become lost. Again "the green or the dry" is also known to God. A tree appears to us to be dry, but when it is watered by rain, it becomes green.

Similarly, a man sometimes appears to us to be devoid of all spirituality, but when he is watered with the water of Divine mercy, he becomes full of spiritual life.

The word کتاب (Book) also signifies knowledge. Other instances of this use may be seen in 30:57 and 68:48 where the words کتاب (lit. book) and یکتبون (lit. they write) respectively mean "knowledge" and "they know". The Holy Prophet is also reported to have written to the people of Yemen, saying, قد بعثت الیکم کاتبا من اصحابی "I have sent to you a writer, i.e. a man of knowledge, from among my Companions" (Bihar, iii. 193). So the Arabic words rendered as "is recorded in a clear Book" may also be translated as "is preserved in sure divine knowledge."

Thus, as God alone possesses the keys of the unseen and as all the conditions and actions of man are known to Him alone, it is He only Who can punish him. No one who is devoid of perfect knowledge is qualified to punish. Again, God alone knows how far hardship or ease influences the actions of a man. He alone knows whether or not the good works done by a man have been rendered null and void through the operation of other causes. He alone knows the grains of virtue that lie embedded in the heart of man and whether or not these grains will sprout forth and grow and thrive and bring forth fruit. He alone can tell whether a person who, to all appearances, is "dry" and devoid of all spiritual life, will turn "green" when supplied with heavenly water or whether he is dead beyond revival. In short, God alone has true knowledge of all things and all conditions and all possibilities and all potentialities, and therefore, He alone can say whether a man deserves to be punished or not.

English - Short Commentary Translation

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them but He. And He knows whatsoever is in the land and in the sea. And there falls not a leaf but He knows it; nor is there a grain in the deep darkness of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but is recorded in a clear book.[854]

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور اس کے پاس غیب کی کنجیاں ہیں جنہیں اس کے سوا اور کوئی نہیں جانتا۔ اور وہ جانتا ہے جو بروبحر میں ہے۔ کوئی پتہ نہیں گرتا مگر وہ اس کا علم رکھتا ہے اور کوئی دانہ نہیں زمین کے اندھیروں میں (چھپاہوا) اور کوئی تر یا خشک چیز نہیں مگر (اس کا ذکر) ایک روشن کتاب میں ہے۔

French

Et avec Lui sont les clés de l’invisible ; Lui Seul les connaît. Et Il connaît tout ce qui est sur la terre et dans la mer. Et aucune feuille ne tombe sans qu’Il le sache ; et pas une graine dans les ténèbres de la terre, ni rien d’humide ni de sec qui ne soit consigné dans un Livre clair.

German

Bei Ihm sind die Schlüssel des Verborgenen; keiner kennt sie als Er allein. Und Er weiß, was auf dem Lande ist und was im Meer. Und nicht ein Blatt fällt nieder, ohne dass Er es weiß; und kein Körnchen ist in der Erde dunkel und nichts Grünes und nichts Dürres, das nicht in einem deutlichen Buch* wäre.

Chinese

他那里有未见 (之门) 的锁匙; 除他之外没有人知道它们。凡在陆海两处的, 他都知道。每一片叶子的坠落他也知道; 大地深处的每一粒 (种子), 地面上一切湿的和干的 (东西) 都在他明显的保护中。

Italian

Ed Egli possiede le chiavi dell'invisibile. Nessun altro all'infuori di Lui lo conosce. Ed Egli conosce tutto quanto esiste sulla terra e nel mare. E non cade una foglia senza che Egli non lo sappia; e non v'è un seme nelle profondità della terra, né alcunché di verde o di secco, che non sia registrato in un chiaro libro.

Spanish

Pues Él posee las claves de lo desconocido; nadie las conoce excepto Él. Y Él sabe todo lo que hay en la tierra y en el mar. Y no cae una hoja sin que Él lo sepa; ni hay un solo grano en las inieblas de la tierra, ni nada húmedo o seco que no esté registrado en un Libro Manifiestamente claro.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور اس کے پاس غیب کی کنجیاں ہیں۔ سوائے اس کے ان (غیبوں) کو کوئی نہیں جانتا اور جو کچھ خشکی اور سمندر میں ہے وہ اسے جانتا ہے اور کوئی پتہ نہیں گرتا مگر وہ اسے جان لیتا ہے اور زمین کی تاریکیوں میں کوئی دانہ نہیں اور نہ کوئی تر (چیز) ہے اور نہ خشک (چیز) جو (اس کی) کھلی (کھلی) حفاظت میں نہ ہو۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اُسی کے پاس غیب کی کنجیاں ہیں جنہیں اس کے سوا کوئی نہیں جانتا بحر و بر میں جو کچھ ہے سب سے وہ واقف ہے درخت سے گرنے والا کوئی پتہ ایسا نہیں جس کا اسے علم نہ ہو زمین کے تاریک پردوں میں کوئی دانہ ایسا نہیں جس سے وہ باخبر نہ ہو خشک و ترسب کچھ ایک کھلی کتاب میں لکھا ہوا ہے

English - Sahih

And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darknesses of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور اسی کے پاس غیب کی کنجیاں ہیں جنہیں اس کےسوا کوئی نہیں جانتا جو کچھ جنگل اور دریا میں ہے وہ سب جانتا ہے اور کوئی پتہ نہیں گرتا مگر وہ اسے بھی جانتاہے اور کوئی دانہ زمین کے تاریک حصوں میں نہیں پڑتا اور نہ کوئی تر اور خشک چیز ہے مگر یہ سب کچھ کتاب روشن میں ہیں

English - Talal Itani

And with Him (are the) keys (of) the unseen, no (one) knows them except Him. And He knows what (is) in the land and in the sea. And not falls of any leaf but He knows it. And not a grain in the darkness[es] (of) the earth and not moist and not dry but (is) in a Record Clear.

Chinese Commentary ^*

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

With Him are the keys of the Unseen; none knows them but He. He knows what is in land and sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. Not a grain in the earth's shadows, not a thing, fresh or withered, but it is in a Book Manifest.

English - Maududi

He has the keys to the realm that lies beyond the reach of human perception; none knows them but He. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea; there is not a leaf which falls that He does not know about and there is not a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything green or dry which has not been recorded in a Clear Book.

English - Ahmed Ali

He has the keys of the Unknown. No one but He has knowledge; He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkest (recess) of the earth, nor any thing green or seared that is not recorded in the open book (of nature).

English - Yusuf Ali

With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read).

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

805

Commentary:

This verse gives a further reason why the work of punishment must remain in the hands of God; it is God alone with Whom are the keys of the unseen, i.e. it is He alone Who knows the unseen. None but He knows the secrets of men’s hearts and, therefore, He alone is in a position to punish.

The expressions "land", "sea", "falling of a leaf", "grain in the darkness of the earth," and "green or dry" are all descriptive of the various conditions of man. The "sea", according to the Arab conception, is typical of hardships, whereas "land" symbolizes ease and comfort. Similarly, "the falling of a leaf" represents the actions of man that are rendered vain and fruitless; whereas the "grain in the darkness of the earth," if left unprotected, may become lost just as virtue, if left uncared for, may become lost. Again "the green or the dry" is also known to God. A tree appears to us to be dry, but when it is watered by rain, it becomes green.

Similarly, a man sometimes appears to us to be devoid of all spirituality, but when he is watered with the water of Divine mercy, he becomes full of spiritual life.

The word کتاب (Book) also signifies knowledge. Other instances of this use may be seen in 30:57 and 68:48 where the words کتاب (lit. book) and یکتبون (lit. they write) respectively mean "knowledge" and "they know". The Holy Prophet is also reported to have written to the people of Yemen, saying, قد بعثت الیکم کاتبا من اصحابی "I have sent to you a writer, i.e. a man of knowledge, from among my Companions" (Bihar, iii. 193). So the Arabic words rendered as "is recorded in a clear Book" may also be translated as "is preserved in sure divine knowledge."

Thus, as God alone possesses the keys of the unseen and as all the conditions and actions of man are known to Him alone, it is He only Who can punish him. No one who is devoid of perfect knowledge is qualified to punish. Again, God alone knows how far hardship or ease influences the actions of a man. He alone knows whether or not the good works done by a man have been rendered null and void through the operation of other causes. He alone knows the grains of virtue that lie embedded in the heart of man and whether or not these grains will sprout forth and grow and thrive and bring forth fruit. He alone can tell whether a person who, to all appearances, is "dry" and devoid of all spiritual life, will turn "green" when supplied with heavenly water or whether he is dead beyond revival. In short, God alone has true knowledge of all things and all conditions and all possibilities and all potentialities, and therefore, He alone can say whether a man deserves to be punished or not.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

854

This and the next verse lay down the guiding principle that it has not been left in the hands of the Holy Prophet to bring down punishment on disbelievers as demanded by them. If this had been the case, they would have since long met their deserved end, and then perhaps many erstwhile enemies of Islam like ‘Umar and Khalid who later on were destined to play a leading role in extending and consolidating the power of Islam, would have died in disbelief. But God being All-Powerful is slow to punish and, being fully conversant with the inner working of the human heart, knows when and whom to punish. He alone knows how far hardships or ease can influence the actions of a man and whether or not good works done by a man are rendered null and void through the operation of other causes. He alone has knowledge of the grains of virtue that lie embedded in the heart of man and knows whether or not these grains will sprout forth and grow and thrive and bring forth fruit. He alone can tell whether a person who, to all

English - Pickthall

And with Him are the keys of the Invisible. None but He knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And with Him are the treasures of the unseen -- none knows them but He. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. And there falls not a leaf but He knows it, nor is there a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor anything green or dry, but (it is all) in a clear book.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

With Him are the keys of the unseen, none knows it but He. He knows whatsoever is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls but He knows it. Nor is there a grain in the darknesses of the earth, nor anything green or dry but is under His effective protection.

Verse 60

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