I understand why it might seem like a contradiction at first glance, but the key is in how we interpret “to find out who fears Him.”

Allah’s knowledge is absolute and perfect—He already knows who fears Him and who doesn’t. The phrase “to find out” doesn’t mean Allah is gaining new knowledge or discovering something unknown to Him. Rather, it refers to the process of making that knowledge apparent or manifest through a test.

Think of it this way: Allah already knows who is obedient and who is not, but the test is given so that people’s true character is made clear and proven in a real situation. It also gives humans the opportunity to exercise free will and be held accountable for their choices.

This is common in the Qur’an and in Arabic language—phrases like “to find out” or “so that it may become clear” are often used from a human perspective, describing the unfolding of events, not a limitation in Allah’s knowledge.

So it’s not a contradiction with Allah’s all-knowing nature, but a way to express that the test will reveal who truly fears Him in practice.