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
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـٰكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِّرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allāh presents an example: a man [i.e., slave] owned by quarreling partners and another belonging exclusively to one man - are they equal in comparison? Praise be to Allāh! But most of them do not know.
لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ
They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command.
لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ ٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُۥ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allāh is Christ, the son of Mary. Say, "Then who could prevent Allāh at all if He had intended to destroy Christ, the son of Mary, or his mother or everyone on the earth?" And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. He creates what He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۗ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.'"