لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَآ ءَالِهَةٌ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ 22
Translations
Had there been within them [i.e., the heavens and earth] gods besides Allāh, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allāh, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
Transliteration
Law kana feehima aalihatan illa Allahu lafasadat. Fasubhana Allahi rabbi al-'arshi 'amma yasifun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a logical proof for monotheism (tawhid): if there were multiple deities in the heavens and earth, each would seek to assert their own will and the universe would fall into chaos and corruption. Ibn Kathir explains this as a rational argument demonstrating the necessity of One God for cosmic order, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the perfection and harmony of creation itself testifies to the existence of a single, all-wise Creator. The ayah concludes with glorification of Allah, transcending Him above the false descriptions attributed by polytheists.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-Anbiya, which refutes polytheism and idolatry through various arguments. It is part of the broader context where the Quran addresses the Meccan polytheists' claim of multiple gods, using both logical reasoning and observable creation as evidence for Allah's oneness.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah,' emphasizing the centrality of tawhid. Additionally, hadiths about the universality of Allah's dominion support this ayah's logical framework.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize the rational coherence of monotheism and the logical impossibility of multiple gods; it invites reflection on the ordered universe as testimony to One Creator. For modern readers, it encourages using intellect alongside revelation to strengthen faith and refute doubts about Allah's oneness.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Exalted is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَـٰنُ لِٱبْنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Luqmān said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allāh. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice."