وَٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُوا۟ لَهُمْ عِزًّا 81
Translations
And they have taken besides Allāh [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.
Transliteration
Wa-ittakhadoo min dooni-Allahi aalihatan liyakoonoo lahum izzah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the polytheists who took false deities besides Allah, falsely believing these idols would grant them power, honor, and protection (izzah). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that the Arabs worshipped idols expecting them to provide worldly might and status, yet these lifeless objects could neither benefit nor harm anyone. The ayah emphasizes the futility and irrationality of shirk (associating partners with Allah), as only Allah possesses true power and can grant genuine honor.
Revelation Context
Surah Maryam, revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam, addresses the pagan Arabs' idol worship directly. This ayah fits within the broader Meccan context of refuting polytheism and emphasizing Allah's absolute oneness. The surah uses the story of Prophet Zachariah and Mary to contrast true monotheistic faith with the false beliefs of the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies while calling upon another besides Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Bukhari 4497). Also relevant: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3154).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true honor, power, and protection come only from Allah alone, not from wealth, status, or material possessions. Seeking izzah (honor and strength) through anything other than obedience to Allah is a delusion that leads to spiritual destruction.
Related Ayahs
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
O mankind, you are those in need of Allāh, while Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا
And We bound [i.e., made firm] their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَـٰهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً ۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍ مُّنِيرٍ
Do you not see that Allāh has made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply bestowed upon you His favors, [both] apparent and unapparent? But of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book [from Him].
قَالَ لَهُۥ صَاحِبُهُۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَكَفَرْتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰكَ رَجُلًا
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?