سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ 40
Translations
Ask them which of them, for that [claim], is responsible.
Transliteration
Salhum ayyuhum bi-dhālik za'īm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet to ask the polytheists who among them would take responsibility and guarantee that the idols they worship possess any share in divine authority or creation. This ayah is part of a rhetorical challenge emphasizing the absurdity of shirk (associating partners with Allah), as none of them can claim guardianship over such false claims. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this serves to expose the logical inconsistency of polytheism and the inability of idols to possess any divine attributes.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the latter portion of Surah Al-Qalam, which addresses the disbelief of the Meccan polytheists and their rejection of the Quran. The surah's context involves refuting idol-worship and emphasizing Allah's absolute uniqueness and power, making this ayah part of a sustained argument against associating partners with Allah.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the principle relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasized that 'Whoever dies without associating anything with Allah will enter Paradise,' reinforcing the theme of strict monotheism presented in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers to reflect on the logical inconsistency of worshipping anything besides Allah and to recognize that only Allah possesses true authority and guardianship. For modern readers, it encourages critical thinking about one's beliefs and removing any false objects of devotion from the heart.