مَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 74
Translations
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Ma qadarullaha haqqa qadrihi, inna allaha laqawiyyun aziiz
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that people have failed to recognize and honor Allah's true majesty and greatness as befits His divine nature. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this refers to those who associate partners with Allah or diminish His attributes through their disbelief and denial. The ayah concludes by affirming that Allah alone possesses infinite power (Qawiyy) and might (Aziiz), emphasizing that no creature can diminish or challenge His supremacy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj's discussion of shirk (polytheism) and the disbelievers' rejection of monotheism. It directly addresses the Meccan polytheists who failed to comprehend Allah's absolute power and instead created false deities, thereby failing to give Allah His rightful due in worship and recognition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, for Allah has said in Surah Al-Hajj: "They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him"' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasizes knowing Allah's names and attributes as a means of proper reverence.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must continuously reflect upon and honor Allah's infinite greatness, recognizing that no human conception can fully encompass His majesty, and that true faith requires acknowledging His complete power over all creation. This awareness should inspire humility, awe, and unwavering devotion in our relationship with the Divine.
Related Ayahs
لَيُدْخِلَنَّهُم مُّدْخَلًا يَرْضَوْنَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ
He will surely cause them to enter an entrance with which they will be pleased, and indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Forbearing.
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِىَ ظَالِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَىَّ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And for how many a city did I prolong enjoyment while it was committing wrong. Then I seized it, and to Me is the [final] destination.
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَـٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.