مَّا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِـَٔابَآئِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا 5
Translations
They have no knowledge of it, nor had their fathers. Grave is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak not except a lie.
Transliteration
Maa lahum bihi min 'ilmin wa laa li-aabaa'ihim. Kaburat kalimatun takhrujo min afwahihim. In yaqooluna illa kathiba.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes the polytheists who ascribe partners to Allah without any knowledge, neither do they possess evidence from their forefathers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'kaburat kalimatan' (a grave word has come forth) emphasizes the severity of this false statement as it issues from their mouths. The ayah concludes that they are merely uttering lies, highlighting the baseless nature of shirk and idolatry.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Kahf within the context of refuting polytheistic beliefs and affirming Islamic monotheism. It directly addresses the pagan Arabs of Mecca who claimed associates with Allah, particularly regarding their worship of idols. The broader narrative critiques those who follow their ancestors' practices without rational foundation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most false speech is poetry,' and emphasized that claims about the divine must be based on knowledge. This relates to Surah Al-Kahf 18:5 in condemning unfounded religious assertions. (Related to themes in various hadith collections regarding false claims in matters of belief)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that religious beliefs must be grounded in authentic knowledge from revelation, not mere tradition or conjecture. It serves as a reminder to critically examine inherited practices and ensure our spiritual convictions are based on truth rather than empty claims.
Related Ayahs
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ دُعَآءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا۟ مَا ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Aware [of all matters].
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allāh presents an example: a man [i.e., slave] owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allāh! But most of them do not know.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۗ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.'"
أَلَآ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
Unquestionably, to Allāh belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allāh do not [actually] follow [His] "partners." They follow not except assumption, and they are not but misjudging.