أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَـٰٓؤُا۟ شَرَعُوا۟ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ ٱلْفَصْلِ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 21
Translations
Or have they partners [i.e., other deities] who have ordained for them a religion to which Allāh has not consented? But if not for the decisive word, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Am lahum shurakaa'u shara'u lahum min ad-dini ma lam ya'dhan bihi Allah. Wa law la kalimatu al-fasl laqudiya baynahum. Wa inna az-zalimin lahum adhab alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who ascribe partners to Allah (mushrikun) and fabricate religious laws and practices without Divine authorization. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this refers to pagans who invented idol worship and invented religious ordinances contrary to Allah's revelation. The phrase 'word of decision' (kalimat al-fasl) refers to Allah's decree delaying judgment until the Day of Resurrection; were it not for this, He would have punished them immediately for their fabrications.
Revelation Context
This surah, revealed in Mecca, addresses polytheism and the deviation of the Arab pagans who created their own religious practices without Divine sanction. The broader context of Surah Ash-Shuraa emphasizes consultation (shura), Divine guidance, and the rejection of human-invented religions that contradict Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, it will be rejected.' (Sahih Bukhari 2697). Also relevant: 'The most evil matters are the newly-invented ones (bid'ah).' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1337)
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must strictly adhere to the Quran and Sunnah in matters of religion, rejecting any practices or beliefs introduced without Divine authorization, as inventing religious laws contradicts Allah's sovereignty and incurs severe punishment.
Related Ayahs
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا ۚ مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِى مَا ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ وَلَا ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِن جَعَلْنَـٰهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِى بِهِۦ مَن نَّشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command [i.e., the Qur’ān]. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, [O Muḥammad], you guide to a straight path -
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَقْبَلُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَعْفُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And it is He who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.
فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا۟ فَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا ۖ إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ۗ وَإِنَّآ إِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَإِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ كَفُورٌ
But if they turn away - then We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], over them as a guardian; upon you is only [the duty of] notification. And indeed, when We let man taste mercy from Us, he rejoices in it; but if evil afflicts him for what his hands have put forth, then indeed, man is ungrateful.
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِن فَوْقِهِنَّ ۚ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
The heavens almost break from above them, and the angels exalt [Allāh] with praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth. Unquestionably, it is Allāh who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.