Tafsir of An-Naml 27:65

"Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah."

If you ask: Why is the name of Allah in the nominative case (raf’), given that Allah is exalted above being among those in the heavens and the earth?

I say: It follows the dialect of the Banu Tamim. They say: "Ma fi al-dar ahad illa himar" (There is no one in the house except a donkey), meaning: "There is nothing in it except a donkey," as if "no one" had not been mentioned at all. From this is the poet’s saying:

On an evening when spears avail not in their place, Nor arrows, except the sharp, keen-edged blade.

And their saying: "Ma atani Zayd illa ‘Amr" (Zayd did not come to me, but ‘Amr did), and "Ma a’anahu ikhwanukum illa ikhwanuhu" (Your brothers did not help him, but his brothers did).

If you ask: What is the motivation for choosing the Tamimi school over the Hijazi school?

I say: A subtle point necessitated it. The exception is phrased like the saying: "Except for the wild deer," after saying: "There is no companion in it." This is to make the meaning equivalent to saying: "If Allah were among those in the heavens and the earth, then they would know the unseen." It means that their knowledge of the unseen is as impossible as it is for Allah to be one of them—just as the meaning of the verse is: "If the wild deer were companions, then there would be companions in it," confirming the statement that it is devoid of companions.

If you ask: Why not claim that Allah is among those in the heavens and the earth, as the theologians say: "Allah is in every place," meaning His knowledge is in all places, as if His Essence were there, so that you would not have to resort to the Tamimi school?

I say: This is rejected because His being in the heavens and the earth is metaphorical, while their being in them is literal. It is invalid for a speaker to intend both the literal and the metaphorical in a single expression. Furthermore, your saying "whoever is in the heavens and the earth" and grouping Him with them under one term creates an illusion of equality, and illusions must be removed from Him and His attributes, Exalted is He. Do you not see how the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the one who said, "And whoever disobeys them has gone astray": "You are a wretched speaker for the people."

And from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "Whoever claims that he knows what will happen tomorrow has fabricated a great lie against Allah, for Allah says: 'Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allah.'"

From some, it is said: He concealed His unseen from the creation and did not inform anyone of it, so that none of His servants would feel secure from His plan.

It is said: It was revealed regarding the polytheists when they asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about the time of the Hour. Ayyana means "when." If it were a proper noun, it would be fa’al from ana-ya’inu, and it would be indeclinable. It is also recited as iyana with a kasra on the hamza.

"Rather, their knowledge is exhausted regarding the Hereafter. Rather, they are in doubt about it. Rather, they are blind to it."