وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَـٰهُم ۗ مَّا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ 20
Translations
And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them." They have of that no knowledge. They are not but misjudging.
Transliteration
Wa qāloo law shāa ar-raḥmānu mā ʿabadnāhum, mā lahum bi-dhālik min ʿilm, in hum illā yakhrusūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The polytheists argued that if Allah (ar-Raḥmān) had willed, they would not have worshipped idols, attempting to shift responsibility for their shirk to divine predestination. Allah refutes this claim by stating they possess no knowledge (ʿilm) of this matter and are merely engaged in conjecture and falsehood (yakhrusūn - guessing or fabricating lies). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse condemns the sophistic excuse-making of disbelievers who deny their own agency and moral responsibility, as Allah has given humans free will and clear guidance through His messengers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Meccan passage addressing the polytheists of Mecca who defended their idolatry through false reasoning. The surah Az-Zukhruf focuses on refuting shirk and the arguments of those who associate partners with Allah, contextualizing their excuses within the greater framework of divine oneness (Tawḥīd).
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here connects to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock,' emphasizing human accountability. Additionally, the Quranic principle in 18:29 ('The truth is from your Lord, so let him who wills believe and let him who wills disbelieve') reinforces that humans possess genuine choice despite divine knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that we cannot blame Allah or claim divine predestination as justification for sin or disobedience; we are accountable for our choices and cannot use ignorance or conjecture to escape responsibility. It serves as a reminder that authentic faith requires sincere reflection and knowledge, not blind adherence to inherited practices or convenient excuses.