From the purport of this Divine speech in this Qur’anic verse, we understand that these five aforementioned things, from the knowledge of the Hour to what is mentioned after it, are among the characteristics of Divinity and the signs of Lordship. And from the speech of the Messenger—Exalted is His might—reported in Sahih Muslim by his saying: “In five [matters], none knows them except Allah,” then he recited the indicated verse, we understand that these five matters, no one in existence is able to perform them except Allah alone.

Because the particle la (“none”) in his saying “none knows them” denotes negation, and the particle illa (“except”) appearing before the word of Majesty in his saying “except Allah” denotes restriction and affirmation. Meaning, He negated the knowledge of these five things and the performing of them from all creatures, and restricted them to Allah and affirmed them for Him—Majestic and Exalted is He.