ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ رَزَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَفْعَلُ مِن ذَٰلِكُم مِّن شَىْءٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 40
Translations
Allāh is the one who created you, then provided for you, then will cause you to die, and then will give you life. Are there any of your "partners" who does anything of that? Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi khalaqakum thumma razaqakum thumma yumiitukum thumma yuhyiikum hal min shurakaaikum man yafalu min dhalikum min shay'i subhanahu wa ta'ala 'amma yushrikun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a logical argument against polytheism by highlighting Allah's exclusive control over the cycle of creation, sustenance, death, and resurrection—powers that no partners (idols or deities) possess. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that the sequence of these divine actions demonstrates Allah's absolute dominion and wisdom, and by posing the rhetorical question 'Do any of your partners do anything of this?' the ayah exposes the futility of associating partners with Allah. The concluding declaration of Allah's transcendence (subhanahu) underscores that such shirk (association) is a grave logical and spiritual error.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ar-Rum, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islamic preaching when the Quraysh polytheists were prominent opponents. The surah's broader context addresses the signs of Allah's power in creation and providence, refuting pagan arguments and reinforcing tawhid (monotheism). The ayah fits within the surah's apologetic purpose of convincing the Meccan idolaters through reason and observable reality.
Related Hadiths
The hadith from Sahih Muslim (2677) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever dies while calling upon another besides Allah as an equal to Allah will meet Allah while He is angry with him.' This relates directly to the ayah's condemnation of shirk. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3445) on the greatness of tawhid reinforces the central message of exclusive monotheism.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that belief in Allah's oneness should be grounded in rational reflection on His observable powers in our lives—He alone creates us, sustains us, and will resurrect us. For modern believers, it encourages us to recognize our complete dependence on Allah and to purify our intentions by directing all worship and gratitude solely to Him, rejecting any subtle forms of associating partners with Allah in our hearts and actions.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَيَبْسُطُهُۥ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجْعَلُهُۥ كِسَفًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ ۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦٓ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
It is Allāh who sends the winds, and they stir the clouds and spread them in the sky however He wills, and He makes them fragments so you see the rain emerge from within them. And when He causes it to fall upon whom He wills of His servants, immediately they rejoice
أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِلِقَآئِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَـٰفِرُونَ
Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ مَنَامُكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱبْتِغَآؤُكُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen.
ثُمَّ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓأَىٰٓ أَن كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allāh and used to ridicule them.