فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 74
Translations
So do not assert similarities to Allāh. Indeed, Allāh knows and you do not know.
Transliteration
Falā taḍribū lillāhi al-amthāl. Inna Allāha yaʿlamu wa antum lā taʿlamūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits Muslims from making likenesses or comparisons (amthāl) for Allah, as such comparisons diminish His transcendent nature and incomparability. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this addresses the pagan practice of comparing Allah to idols and created things, while emphasizing that Allah's knowledge is absolute and unlimited, whereas human knowledge is finite and deficient. Al-Qurtubi notes this serves as a foundational principle against anthropomorphism and false theological reasoning about the Divine.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan surah addressing idolatry and polytheistic practices of pre-Islamic Arabia. The broader context (16:73-75) discusses how pagans attribute partners to Allah and make false comparisons between Allah and His creation, particularly regarding idols. This ayah directly refutes such theological errors by affirming Allah's unique attributes and superiority over all creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'Nothing is like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing' (Surah Ash-Shura 42:11), which echoes this principle of Allah's incomparability. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned against discussing the nature of Allah in ways that lead to confusion and false comparisons.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should refrain from making inadequate comparisons or descriptions of Allah based on limited human understanding, recognizing that our knowledge is incomplete while Allah's is infinite. This teaches intellectual humility and the importance of receiving guidance from revelation rather than relying solely on reason when approaching theological matters.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ لَعِبْرَةً ۖ نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِۦ مِنۢ بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِّلشَّـٰرِبِينَ
And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ ۚ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ ۚ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
And Allāh has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored [i.e., given more] would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess [i.e., slaves] so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allāh they reject?
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allāh orders justice and good conduct and giving [help] to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
وَمِن ثَمَرَٰتِ ٱلنَّخِيلِ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason.