أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۗ قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ 195
Translations
Do they have feet by which they walk? Or do they have hands by which they strike? Or do they have eyes by which they see? Or do they have ears by which they hear? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Call your 'partners' and then conspire against me and give me no respite.
Transliteration
Alahum arjulun yamashoona biha am lahum aydun yabatashoona biha am lahum a'yunun yubsiroona biha am lahum adhunun yasma'oona biha qul ud'oo shurakaakum thumma keedooni fala tunzirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah powerfully refutes the idolatry of the Quraysh by highlighting the complete incapacity of their gods to possess basic human faculties—feet to walk, hands to grasp, eyes to see, or ears to hear. Allah challenges the polytheists to invoke their idols alongside Him and attempt to harm the Prophet, declaring that He will not delay their punishment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this as a reductio ad absurdum argument: if their gods cannot even perform the simplest functions of a human body, how can they be worthy of worship or capable of answering prayers?
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah Al-A'raf's broader confrontation with pagan Arab idolatry, addressing the Meccan polytheists directly. The context follows Allah's discussion of how the disbelievers choose false deities despite clear signs of monotheism. The rhetorical challenge reflects the historical period when the Prophet faced intense opposition in Mecca and needed to intellectually demolish the foundations of shirk (polytheism).
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4476: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The most wicked word is to call Allah by names other than His own.' This relates to the theme of proper understanding of Allah's uniqueness. Additionally, the general principle in numerous hadiths warns against associating partners with Allah, as in Surah Al-A'raf 7:33 on prohibiting shirk.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to intellectually recognize that true worship belongs only to the living, all-knowing, all-powerful God, and serves as a reminder that false objects of worship—whether idols, wealth, status, or desires—are powerless and cannot benefit or harm us. For modern believers, it encourages critical thinking about what we place our trust in and whom we truly serve.