أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 17
Translations
Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?
Transliteration
Afaman yakhluqu kaman la yakhluqu? Afala tathakkarun?
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical question comparing the Creator (Allah) with those who cannot create, emphasizing the logical absurdity of equating them. Ibn Kathir explains this as a fundamental proof of Allah's uniqueness (tawhid), arguing that only the Creator deserves worship and obedience. Al-Qurtubi notes the ayah serves as a rebuttal to polytheism, since idols and false deities possess no creative power whatsoever.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early Islamic period when the Quraysh polytheists were actively resisting monotheism. The surah's broader context addresses the signs of Allah's creation and power in nature, systematically dismantling arguments for polytheism by highlighting Allah's exclusive attribute of creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, Allah has ninety-nine names; whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari 2736), relating to recognizing Allah's unique attributes including His role as the sole Creator (Al-Khaliq). Additionally, in Surah Al-Hashr 59:24, Allah is described as 'The Creator' (Al-Khaliq), reinforcing this exclusive divine attribute.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to use reason and reflection to recognize Allah's uniqueness and superiority over all false deities and created beings. It challenges us to question whether anything besides Allah deserves our worship, and to contemplate the logical impossibility of ascribing creative power to any being other than the Almighty.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh - Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
He is Allāh, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
سُبْحَـٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ ٱلْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.
أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
So is it other than the religion of Allāh they desire, while to Him have submitted [all] those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned?