أَمْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنًا فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِهِۦ يُشْرِكُونَ 35
Translations
Or have We sent down to them an authority [i.e., a proof or scripture], and it speaks of what they have been associating with Him?
Transliteration
Am anzalna AAalayhim sultanaan fahuwa yatakallamu bima kanoo bihi yushrikoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah questions the disbelievers rhetorically: 'Have We sent down to them an authority that speaks in favor of what they associate with Allah in shirk?' The verse challenges the polytheists of Mecca by asserting that they have no divine authorization or proof for their idolatrous practices. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah emphasizes that the disbelievers lack any scriptural evidence or divinely-revealed authority to support their polytheism, and their claims are baseless fabrications.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ar-Rum (Chapter 30), a Meccan surah that addresses the polytheists' denial and lack of evidence for their shirk. The broader context of verses 29-35 deals with the disbelievers' obstinate rejection of tawheed (monotheism) despite clear signs. The verse is part of Allah's refutation of their idolatrous beliefs and their invention of partners with God.
Related Hadiths
The principle referenced relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'The most unjust of people is he who ascribes partners to Allah' (reported by various scholars). Additionally, the Hadith 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah enters the Fire' (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim) reflects the gravity of shirk condemned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that polytheism and the worship of false deities have no rational, scriptural, or divine foundation—they are purely human inventions. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to reject any religious practices or beliefs that lack clear evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, and to stand firm in monotheistic faith.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَقَالَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ
They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allāh is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allāh - Allāh has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.
وَقَالُوا۟ ٱتَّخَذَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ
And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۗ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.'"
مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ ۚ إِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Allāh has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] overcome others. Exalted is Allāh above what they describe [concerning Him].