وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَوٰةً وَلَا نُشُورًا 3
Translations
But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection.
Transliteration
Wa-ittakhadu min dunihī ālihatah lā yakhluqūn shay'an wa-hum yukhlaqu wa-lā yamlikūn li-anfusihim darran wa-lā naf'an wa-lā yamlikūn mawtan wa-lā hayātan wa-lā nushūran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the illogic of polytheism by emphasizing the absolute powerlessness of idols: they neither create anything nor possess the power to harm or benefit themselves or others, nor do they control death, life, or resurrection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as a logical proof (dalīl) against shirk, demonstrating that worship should be directed only to Allah who possesses all these divine attributes. The ayah systematically dismantles the false claims of idolaters by listing the attributes exclusive to the true God.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islamic preaching when polytheism was widespread in Arabia. The surah's central theme is distinguishing truth from falsehood, and this particular ayah addresses the Meccan polytheists' practice of associating partners with Allah, refuting their worship of idols that possess no divine attributes or power whatsoever.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most grievous sin is to associate partners with Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, the Qur'anic principle of tawhīd is reinforced in the hadith: 'Whoever dies without associating anything with Allah enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim 93).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that worship and submission should be directed only toward Allah, as only He possesses true power and authority over all affairs. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to examine what we place our trust, hope, and dependence upon—ensuring these are directed solely to Allah and not to worldly powers, wealth, or created beings that are themselves powerless and temporary.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ أَنَسْجُدُ لِمَا تَأْمُرُنَا وَزَادَهُمْ نُفُورًا ۩
And when it is said to them, "Prostrate to the Most Merciful," they say, "And what is the Most Merciful? Should we prostrate to that which you order us?" And it increases them in aversion.
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّآ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ ٱلطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى ٱلْأَسْوَاقِ ۗ وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا
And We did not send before you, [O Muḥammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have made some of you [people] as trial for others - will you have patience? And ever is your Lord, Seeing.
وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَـٰهُ بَيْنَهُمْ لِيَذَّكَّرُوا۟ فَأَبَىٰٓ أَكْثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ إِلَّا كُفُورًا
And We have certainly distributed it among them that they might be reminded, but most of the people refuse except disbelief.
وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَىٰ مَا عَمِلُوا۟ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَـٰهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُورًا
And We will approach [i.e., regard] what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.