Quran Universe
16:19

وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعۡلِنُونَ

WaAllahu yaAAlamu ma tusirroona wama tuAAlinoona

And Allah knows what you conceal and what you declare.

Word by word
  1. وَٱللَّهُAnd Allah
  2. يَعۡلَمُknows
  3. مَاwhat
  4. تُسِرُّونَyou conceal
  5. وَمَاand what
  6. تُعۡلِنُونَyou reveal
An-Nahl · 16:19Makkah

He knows the hidden thought and the spoken word alike.

No gap between private and public for Allah

Two sides of a person
what you hidethoughts, motives
what you showwords, actions
both known to
Allahequally, fully
Where the real me lives
only what's seencounts
inside and outboth will be weighed

The surah turns from gifts to the idols people called on. First it reminds them: Allah knows what is hidden in hearts as well as what is apparent. Ibn Kathir adds that everyone will be rewarded or punished for their deeds on the Day of Resurrection.

You smile in the meeting while typing a different message under the table. You post a kind caption about someone you resent. The audience only sees one side. He sees both, and He is the only audience that lasts.

What I keep inside is my own business.

My hidden side is as open to Allah as my public face.

Try this

Pick one thing you say in public and check today whether your heart matches it.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And Allah knows what you conceal and what you reveal (19)Those whom they invoke besides Allah have not created anything, but are themselves created (20)(They are) dead, not alive; and they do not know when they will be resurrected (21)

Allah tells us that He knows what is hidden in people's hearts as well as what is apparent. He will reward or punish everyone for their deeds on the Day of Resurrection. If their deeds are good then they will be rewarded, and if their deeds are evil, then they will be punished.

The gods of the Idolators are Created, they do not create

Then Allah tells us that the idols which people call on instead of Him cannot create anything, they are themselves created, as Al-Khalil (Ibrahim) said:

أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ - وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

("Do you worship that which you (yourselves) carve? While Allah has created you and what you make!")(37:95-96)

أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ

((They are) dead, not alive) means, they are inanimate and lifeless, they do not hear, see, or think.

وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ

(and they know not when they will be resurrected.) meaning, they do not know when the Hour will come, so how can anyone hope for any benefit or reward from these idols They should hope for it from the One Who knows all things and is the Creator of all things.