أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَآءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ صَـٰدِقِينَ 41
Translations
Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners, if they should be truthful.
Transliteration
Am lahum shurakaa fa-lya'too bi-shurakaa'ihim in kanoo sadiqeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a rhetorical challenge to the polytheists of Mecca who claimed that their idols (partners with Allah) could intercede for them or provide benefit. Allah commands them to produce these so-called partners if they are truthful in their claims, knowing they cannot do so, thereby exposing the falsehood of shirk (polytheism). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a decisive argument against idolatry, as the inability to produce these 'partners' demonstrates their powerlessness and invalidity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Qalam, a Meccan chapter that primarily addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah responds to various objections raised by Meccan polytheists, and this particular verse targets their claim of associating partners with Allah in worship and belief.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this verse, it relates thematically to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Whoever dies while calling upon something other than Allah as a rival will meet Allah while He is angry with him.' This reinforces the severity of shirk addressed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that false beliefs and idolatry cannot withstand rational scrutiny and divine logic—they crumble when challenged to prove their claims. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of sincere monotheism and warns against placing trust, hope, or reliance upon anything other than Allah alone.