"Does He who created not know?" — Surah Al-Mulk, verse 14 uses this question to emphasize that God knows everything He has created down to its finest detail, describing Him with the attributes "Al-Latif" (the One who penetrates the finest point of everything) and "Al-Khabir" (the One who is aware of everything). Below: the verse's meaning, its context, and its relationship to God's attribute of knowledge.
The Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Al-Mulk, Verse 14
The verse's Arabic text is as follows: أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ Translation: "Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?" You can listen to the verse's full text with audio on our Surah Al-Mulk verse 14 page.
The Verse's Context
This verse continues the statement in the preceding verses of Surah Al-Mulk that "whether you conceal your speech or make it public, He is Knowing of that within the breasts." Through a rhetorical question structure ("does He who created not know?"), the verse directs the reader to the logical connection between the act of creation and the attribute of knowledge: whoever brings something into existence also knows every detail of that thing.
The Meaning of the Names "Al-Latif" and "Al-Khabir"
Lexically, "Al-Latif" means "subtle, hidden, penetrating," and expresses God's knowledge that penetrates the most hidden, finest details. "Al-Khabir" means "the One who is aware of everything." These two names being mentioned together emphasizes that God's knowledge is limitless both in depth (the finest detail) and in scope (everything). You can find God's other names and attributes in our Attributes of God collection.
Its Relationship to Surah Al-Mulk
Surah Al-Mulk is a 30-verse Meccan surah on the subject of God's dominion (absolute sovereignty) and power of creation. Throughout the surah, attention is drawn to the order of the sky and creation, emphasizing that this order is not a matter of chance. Verse 14 crowns this general theme with God's attribute of knowledge: the Creator knows what He has created down to its finest detail.
Why Is It Expressed as a Question?
The verse being phrased as a question, "Does He who created not know?" is a style called "istifham inkari" (a rhetorical negative question whose answer is already evident) in the science of Quranic commentary. The purpose of this style is not to ask a genuine question, but to have the reader confirm with their own reasoning that the answer is self-evident. The logic emphasized here is this: whoever creates something also knows how it works, what it needs, and what it contains — creation and knowledge cannot be separated from one another. Such questions are frequently used in the Quran and place the reader in the position of an actively thinking interlocutor rather than a passive listener.
Does the Name "Al-Latif" Appear Elsewhere in the Quran?
The name "Al-Latif" is not repeated in only one place in the Quran, but in several different verses together with God's other names; this repetition shows that the name holds a central place among God's attributes. The common emphasis in every context where the name appears is that God possesses knowledge that penetrates even the finest details that escape the notice of His servants. This is both a comforting message (no hardship falls outside His knowledge) and a reminder of accountability (no action can be hidden from Him).
Which Juz Is Surah Al-Mulk In?
Surah Al-Mulk is the first surah of the 29th juz, the juz right before the 30th and final juz of the Quran; this juz is also known as "Juz Tabaraka" — the name comes from "Tabaraka" (meaning "blessed and exalted"), the first word of Surah Al-Mulk. In this juz, Al-Mulk is followed by short-to-medium length surahs such as Al-Qalam, Al-Haqqah, Al-Ma'arij, Nuh, Al-Jinn, and Al-Muzzammil; all are listed in order in our 30 Juz Index.
General Information About Surah Al-Mulk and Reciting It at Night
Narrations about reciting Surah Al-Mulk at night, especially before sleeping, are well known, and this aspect of the surah is covered frequently on our site as well. You can find detailed information about the full text of Surah Al-Mulk and its recitation before sleep in our article Is Surah Al-Mulk Recited Before Sleeping?.
Practical Plan
You can visit our Surah Al-Mulk page to listen to the surah's full Arabic text, translation, and audio recording.
Surah Al-Mulk, verse 14, conveys through a concise question-and-answer structure that God knows everything He has created down to its finest detail; this short verse summarizes the theme of creation and oversight running through the entire surah in a single sentence. See our article Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 24 for the similarly famous verse in Surah Al-Qasas. For other questions, see our FAQ page.
Note: This content is for general information; different schools of thought and scholars may hold differing views. Consult a scholar you trust for personal religious decisions.
Sources
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- QuranEnc — English Translation
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, 'Mülk Sûresi' maddesi