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Sura 40
Aya 19
19
يَعلَمُ خائِنَةَ الأَعيُنِ وَما تُخفِي الصُّدورُ

Yusuf Ali

(God) knows of (the tricks) that deceive with the eyes,1 and all that the hearts (of men) conceal.2
  • Men may be taken in by tricks that deceive with the eyes, but God’s perfect knowledge penetrates through all mysteries. “Deceive with the eyes” may mean several things: (1) a sleight of hand (literally or figuratively) may deceive in respect of the eyes of beholders, for the things that they see do not actually happen; (2) it may be the deceiver’s own eyes that play false, because, for example, they show love when hatred is meant; or (3) it may be that the eyes of the beholder play him false, in that he sees things that he should not see, and thus sins with his eyes.
  • Here we come into the region of evil motives and thoughts which may be concealed in the hearts, breast, or mind, but which are all perfectly known to God.