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
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ
So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them. And to Allāh will be returned [all] matters.
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَكَانَ ٱلْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِى شَيْـًٔا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِينَ وَٱلْقَآئِمِينَ وَٱلرُّكَّعِ ٱلسُّجُودِ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We designated for Abraham the site of the House, [saying], "Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform ṭawāf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate.
مَن كَانَ يَظُنُّ أَن لَّن يَنصُرَهُ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ بِسَبَبٍ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ثُمَّ لْيَقْطَعْ فَلْيَنظُرْ هَلْ يُذْهِبَنَّ كَيْدُهُۥ مَا يَغِيظُ
Whoever should think that Allāh will not support him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] in this world and the Hereafter - let him extend a rope to the ceiling, then cut off [his breath], and let him see: will his effort remove that which enrages [him]?