Surah Luqman — Verse 27

Word Meanings:

• Aqlam (أَقْلَام): Pens, plural of qalam, referring to pens carved from wood for writing.
• Yumidduhu (يَمُدُّهُ): Supplies it, extends it, or replenishes it—meaning the sea is supplemented by additional seas.
• Kalimat Allah (كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ): The words of Allah—His knowledge, wisdom, decrees, and the manifestations of His power and command.

Tafsir (Explanation):

Imagine, dear reader, that every single tree on the face of the earth—from the tallest cedar to the smallest shrub—were carved into pens. Imagine further that the vast oceans of the world were turned into ink, and then seven more oceans like them were added, pouring into the first to replenish it endlessly. If all of creation were to take up those pens and dip them into that boundless ink to write down the words of Allah—His knowledge, His wisdom, His signs, and His decrees—the pens would splinter and wear away, and the ink would run dry long before even a fraction of His words could be recorded. Yet the words of Allah would remain just as infinite and inexhaustible as they were before.

This magnificent imagery is not merely a figure of speech; it is a profound declaration of the absolute infinity of Allah’s knowledge and power. His "words" encompass everything—His commands that brought the universe into being, His wisdom that governs every atom, His mercy that encompasses all things, and His knowledge that nothing escapes. No matter how vast the resources of creation, they could never contain or exhaust even a drop of His boundless reality.

The verse concludes with two of Allah’s beautiful attributes: Al-Aziz (the Almighty, the All-Mighty) and Al-Hakim (the All-Wise). He is Aziz—irresistible in His might, victorious over all, and His power is such that nothing can overcome or frustrate Him. He is Hakim—perfect in His wisdom, placing everything in its precise and proper position, and His actions are never devoid of profound purpose. These two attributes together reassure the believer: because He is Mighty, His promise of reward and His threat of punishment are both certain; because He is Wise, everything He decrees—whether we understand it or not—is for the ultimate good.

This verse also affirms, in the clearest terms, the attribute of speech (Kalam) for Allah—real and true, befitting His majesty and perfection, without any resemblance to the speech of His creatures. He speaks, and His speech is eternal and limitless.

A Da'wah Reflection:

How can we not stand in awe of a Lord whose words are so vast that all the trees of the earth and all the oceans of the world—multiplied sevenfold—could never exhaust them? Yet this same Lord, whose knowledge is infinite, knows you personally. He hears your whispered prayers, sees your silent tears, and counts every good deed you do, no matter how small. If His words never run out, then His mercy never runs out, His forgiveness never runs out, and His provision for you never runs out. So turn to Him with confidence, for the One who holds the keys to everything is the One who will never tire of hearing from you. Let this verse ignite in your heart a love for His Book, for every verse you recite is a drop from that infinite ocean—and every drop is a treasure that will never end.