Hearing, Knowing as a verse closing
سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
samīʿun ʿalīmun — Hearing, Knowing
In the four verses given, the pair samīʿ ʿalīm closes statements that pair an outward act or attitude with a hidden motive or inner state, so the closing names answer both what is outward and what is inward in each scene.
In all four verses the pair closes the verse as two indefinite nominative masculine singular adjectives predicated of Allah; 9:98, 9:103 and 24:60 close with wa-llāhu samīʿun ʿalīmun ('And Allah is Hearing, Knowing'), while 49:1 closes with inna llāha samīʿun ʿalīmun ('indeed, Allah is Hearing, Knowing'). What the preceding words supply differs, and in each case the pair answers two distinct aspects of what has just been said. In (9:98) a man regards his spending as a burden and lies in wait for misfortune to strike others; the verse then states that the cycle of evil is upon them. The closing names cover both the burden he attributes to what he spends and the concealed hostile expectation that the verse itself exposes. In (9:103) the instruction is to take a ṣadaqah and to ṣalli over them, with the assurance that the messenger's ṣalawāt are a stilling reassurance; the pair closes the command to take a ṣadaqah and to ṣalli over them — the ṣalawāt a stilling reassurance for them — answering the outward act commanded and the inner cleansing and growth it brings. In (24:60) the verse permits the seated women to set down their garments without flaunting adornment, while saying that seeking to remain chaste is better for them; the closing names cover the visible, outward act of dress and the inner restraint (ʿiffah) the verse names as better. In (49:1) the address forbids going ahead in front of Allah and His messenger and commands wariness of Allah; the pair closes the prohibition on going ahead of Allah and His messenger and the command to be wary of Allah, declaring that Allah hears and knows. In the verses given, the pair consistently closes material that pairs an outward, audible or visible element with an inward state.
Where it occurs
- 9:98 Closes the exposure of the burden a man attributes to his spending and his hidden expectation of harm, declaring Allah hears and knows.
- 9:103 Closes the command to take ṣadaqah and ṣalli over them, covering the commanded acts and the inner cleansing and reassurance they bring.
- 24:60 Closes the ruling on garments and adornment, covering outward dress and the inner chastity the verse calls better.
- 49:1 Closes the prohibition on going ahead of Allah and His messenger and the command to be wary of Allah, declaring Allah's hearing and knowing.
All Qur'anic expressions