إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 98
Translations
When we equated you with the Lord of the worlds.
Transliteration
Idh nusawwikum bi-rabbi al-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts the Day of Judgment when the disbelievers will confess their grave sin of associating partners with Allah, saying 'when we equated you [our false gods and idols] with the Lord of all worlds.' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the bitter regret of polytheists who will finally acknowledge that their shirk (associating partners with Allah) was the greatest injustice and deviation from truth. The ayah emphasizes the heinousness of polytheism—equating finite, powerless creations with the Infinite, All-Powerful Creator.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that extensively details the stories of prophets and their peoples' rejection. Verse 98 is part of a passage (26:94-98) describing the Day of Judgment when the condemned will wish to ransom themselves from punishment. The context shows the ultimate consequence of shirk and rejection of divine guidance throughout human history.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate a partner with Allah' (Shirk is the greatest sin). Also relevant is the hadith in At-Tirmidhi describing the regret of disbelievers on the Day of Judgment when they witness the truth they rejected.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the gravity of associating partners with Allah and the ultimate regret awaiting those who do so. It reinforces that sincere belief in Allah's absolute oneness in this life is the only path to salvation, making tawhid the cornerstone of Islamic faith and practice.
Related Ayahs
ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَـٰٓقُّونَ فِيهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ إِنَّ ٱلْخِزْىَ ٱلْيَوْمَ وَٱلسُّوٓءَ عَلَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Then on the Day of Resurrection He will disgrace them and say, "Where are My 'partners' for whom you used to oppose [the believers]?" Those who were given knowledge will say, "Indeed disgrace, this Day, and evil are upon the disbelievers" -
لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ
They will have canopies [i.e., layers] of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allāh threatens [i.e., warns] His servants. O My servants, then fear Me.
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ ءَأَنتُمْ أَضْلَلْتُمْ عِبَادِى هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَمْ هُمْ ضَلُّوا۟ ٱلسَّبِيلَ
And [mention] the Day He will gather them and that which they worship besides Allāh and will say, "Did you mislead these, My servants, or did they [themselves] stray from the way?"
سَنُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ بِمَآ أَشْرَكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۖ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allāh of which He had not sent down [any] authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.