What is the significance of Allah being All-Hearing and All-Seeing compared to man?
دلالة وصف الله تعالى ووصف الإنسان بالسميع البصير
Allah describes Himself as the All-Hearing: and He describes Himself as the All-Seeing. Also: He describes man as hearer and seer. Yet: the hearing of man is different from the hearing of Allah: Exalted and Sublime be He: Who says about His Exalted Character: "Nothing is like Him." This means He is Matchless.
إن الله وصف نفسه بالسميع ووصف نفسه بالبصير كما وصف الإنسان أنه سميع وأنه بصير ولكن سمع الإنسان ليس كسمع الله عز وجل. الله قال عن ذاته العلية: "ليس كمثله شيء" أي ليس يماثله شيء.
The Infinite Perception of the Creator | الإدراك المطلق للخالق
As for man: there are sounds which he cannot hear: while Allah: Exalted and Sublime be He: says about His Exalted Character:
فالإنسان قد تغيب عن سمعه بعض المسموعات بينما الله عز وجل قال عن ذاته العلية:
1. Encompassing Every Atom
(Not even an atom’s weight is hidden from your Lord on earth or in heaven; nor anything smaller or larger than that, but is written in a perfect Record.) [Yunus 10:61]
1. الإحاطة بكل ذرة
("لا يعزب عنه مثقال ذرة في السماوات ولا في الأرض ولا أصغر من ذلك ولا أكبر إلا في كتاب مبين") [يونس 10: 61]
2. Knowledge Beyond Human Grasp
(He fully knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but they cannot encompass Him in their knowledge.) [Taha 20:110]
2. العلم الذي يفوق إدراك البشر
(يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِهِ عِلْمًا) [طه 20: 110]
3. The Ultimate Witness
(If three converse privately, He is their fourth. If five, He is their sixth. Whether fewer or more, He is with them wherever they may be. Then, on the Day of Judgment, He will inform them of what they have done. Surely Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.) [Al-Mujadala 58:7]
3. الشاهد والمحيط بكل شيء
(مَا يَكُونُ مِن نَّجْوَىٰ ثَلَاثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلَا خَمْسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلَا أَدْنَىٰ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَا أَكْثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَمَا كَانُوا ۖ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ) [المجادلة 58: 7]
4. Hearing the Quietest Pleas
(Indeed, Allah has heard the argument of the woman who pleaded with you O Prophet concerning her husband.) [Al-Mujadala 58:1]
4. سماع أخفى المناجاة
(قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا) [المجادلة 58: 1]
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
How does the Holy Quran distinguish between the hearing of Allah and the hearing of man?
While both are described with the terms "hearing" and "seeing": human hearing is limited and misses many sounds. In contrast: Allah's hearing is perfect: infinite: and matchless: as He declares: "Nothing is like Him."
Does anything escape the knowledge or perception of Allah?
No. As stated in Surah Yunus (10:61): not even an atom's weight on earth or in heaven: nor anything smaller or larger: is hidden from Allah's perfect record and knowledge.
How does Allah's presence relate to private conversations among people?
According to Surah Al-Mujadala (58:7): Allah is fully aware of all private conversations. If three people converse: He is their fourth; if five: He is their sixth. He is always with them through His perfect knowledge: regardless of their number or location.