وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ 49
Translations
And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.
Transliteration
Wa-annahu huwa Rabbu ash-shi'ra
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone is the Lord of Sirius (ash-Shi'ra), the brightest star visible in the night sky, refuting the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of venerating this star as a deity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this statement serves as a polemical declaration against idolatry, asserting Allah's exclusive dominion over all creation, both seen and unseen. The mention of this particular star highlights how even the most magnificent celestial bodies are merely creations under Allah's sovereignty, not objects worthy of worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Najm, a Meccan chapter that addresses polytheistic practices of the Quraysh. The surah's theme centers on refuting idol worship and affirming monotheism. The specific mention of Sirius reflects the pre-Islamic Arabian astronomical knowledge and their cultural practice of star worship, making this a direct refutation of a widespread contemporary belief among the pagan Arabs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best du'a is the du'a on the day of Arafah, and the best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing' (Tirmidhi 3585). This relates thematically to affirming Allah's unique attributes and dominion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that all creation—no matter how grand or beautiful—serves as evidence of Allah's singular lordship and should never become objects of veneration themselves. This ayah teaches us to redirect our awe and reverence away from created things toward the Creator alone.
Related Ayahs
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ فَالِقُ ٱلْحَبِّ وَٱلنَّوَىٰ ۖ يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتِ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
Indeed, Allāh is the cleaver of grain and date seeds. He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living. That is Allāh; so how are you deluded?
أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ تَمْنَعُهُم مِّن دُونِنَا ۚ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَا هُم مِّنَّا يُصْحَبُونَ
Or do they have gods to defend them other than Us? They are unable [even] to help themselves, nor can they be protected from Us.
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.