وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَا يَضُرُّهُمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلْكَافِرُ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ ظَهِيرًا 55
Translations
But they worship rather than Allāh that which does not benefit them or harm them, and the disbeliever is ever, against his Lord, an assistant [to Satan].
Transliteration
Wa ya'budūna min dūni-Allāhi mā lā yanfa'uhum wa lā yaḍurruhum, wa kāna al-kāfiru 'alā rabbihi ẓahīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the practice of worshipping false gods and idols that possess no power to benefit or harm their worshippers, highlighting the futility of polytheism. The phrase 'the disbeliever is a helper against his Lord' (according to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi) means that by rejecting Allah's oneness and turning to idols, the disbeliever becomes an adversary to Allah's divine will and allies himself with Satan against his own Creator. This verse emphasizes the irrationality of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and the ingratitude inherent in denying Allah's exclusive right to worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Furqan, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when polytheists in Mecca openly worshipped idols and rejected monotheism. The surah addresses the fundamental differences between true guidance and misguidance, making this verse part of the broader Meccan emphasis on tawhid (Islamic monotheism) against the backdrop of Arabian paganism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 4:55:535). Additionally, 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 1:93).
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches believers to recognize that any object of worship besides Allah—whether material possessions, wealth, status, or false ideologies—is powerless and deserving of rejection. It serves as a reminder that true devotion belongs to Allah alone, and turning away from His oneness is not merely a doctrinal error but an act of rebellion that separates one from divine mercy and guidance.