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.