لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ 43
Translations
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
Transliteration
La jarama annama tad'oonani ilayhi laysa lahu da'watu fi ad-dunya wa la fi al-akhirah wa anna maraddana ilallah wa anna al-musrifin hum ashab an-nar
Tafsir (Explanation)
The believer (the soul of Pharaoh's minister) addresses Pharaoh and his people, declaring that what they call him to worship (idols and false gods) has no basis of prayer or intercession either in this world or the next, and that all affairs return to Allah alone. Ibn Kathir notes this statement emphasizes the absolute powerlessness of false deities and the futility of their worship, while Al-Tabari explains that the believer is asserting the exclusive right of Allah to be worshipped and to grant intercession on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the dialogue in Surah Ghafir where a believing man from Pharaoh's household speaks truth to power, warning his people against disbelief. It occurs in the Meccan period when Muslims faced similar pressure to abandon monotheism, making this historical example deeply relevant to the Prophet's community who were mocked for their faith.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6565) where the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most excellent supplication is that on the day of Arafah,' relates to the concept of intercession and supplication being exclusive to Allah. Also relevant is Muslim's report that false gods cannot hear or respond to those who call upon them besides Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that genuine spiritual guidance comes from worshipping Allah alone, and that no intermediary—whether idol, person, or false deity—holds any real power or authority; placing trust in anything besides Allah is both logically and spiritually futile, and this conviction should embolden believers to speak truth even in hostile environments.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَـٰشِفَـٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَـٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
وَٱلَّذِى يُمِيتُنِى ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ
And who will cause me to die and then bring me to life
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Then We revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allāh.
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Do you not know that Allāh knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.