ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ 28
Translations
He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess [i.e., slaves] any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.
Transliteration
Daraba lakum mathalan min anfusikum hal lakum mimma malakat aymanukum min shuraka'a fi ma razaqnakum fa-antum fihi sawa'un takhafunohum ka-khifatikum anfusakum kadhalika nufassilu al-ayati li-qawmin ya'qilun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah presents a rational argument to the Quraysh by asking them: Would they be willing to give their slaves and servants equal share in their wealth and possessions, treating them as partners in what Allah has provided? Just as they would reject this arrangement and fear such equality, they should understand the absurdity of associating partners with Allah in worship and divinity. This ayah uses a relatable human example to demonstrate the logical inconsistency and injustice of shirk (polytheism), as explained by Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi in their tafsirs.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca who rejected monotheism. This particular ayah appears in a section refuting idolatry and shirk through rational arguments and logical examples. The context involves Allah's response to those who attributed partners to Him, using everyday examples to make the concept intellectually accessible.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here aligns with the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk).' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains hadiths about the severity of shirk and its incompatibility with Allah's justice and perfection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that accepting the Oneness of Allah is not only a matter of faith but also of rational thought and logical consistency; believers should recognize that just as one would never accept a partner in their own possessions, Allah deserves sole worship and partnership with none, and this principle should guide our understanding of faith.
Related Ayahs
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
وَلَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ
And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him is [due] worship constantly. Then is it other than Allāh that you fear?
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ دُعَآءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا۟ مَا ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Aware [of all matters].
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?