إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَـٰنًا مَّرِيدًا 117
Translations
They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan,
Transliteration
In yad'ūna min dūnihī illā ināthan wa in yad'ūna illā shayṭānan marīdā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns polytheistic idolatry, stating that those who worship besides Allah invoke nothing but female deities (goddesses like Al-Lāt, Al-'Uzzā, and Manāt worshipped by pre-Islamic Arabs), and in reality, they are only calling upon Satan, the rebellious one. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī emphasize that the mention of 'female' deities underscores the absurdity of shirk, as the pagans attributed daughters to Allah while denying them for themselves, and that all false worship ultimately leads to obedience of Satan regardless of the intermediaries invoked.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisā's broader discussion of monotheism and refutation of shirk (polytheism). It specifically addresses the Arabian pagan practice of worshipping female idols, which was widespread during the Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic period). The context follows discussions on the oneness of Allah and the consequences of associating partners with Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan At-Tirmidhi describes how shirk is the greatest sin that Allah will not forgive.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that any form of worship directed toward other than Allah—whether through idols, saints, or false deities—ultimately constitutes obedience to Satan and separation from divine guidance. Modern readers should reflect on how subtle forms of shirk (materialism, nationalism, celebrity worship) can replace proper devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَضْلُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ عَلِيمًا
That is the bounty from Allāh, and sufficient is Allāh as Knower.
وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ وَلَـَٔامُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا
And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allāh." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allāh has certainly sustained a clear loss.
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُۥ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُۥ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allāh has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ أَيَبْتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلْعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا
Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allāh entirely.