قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ 22
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Invoke those you claim [as deities] besides Allāh." They do not possess an atom's weight [of ability] in the heavens or on the earth, and they do not have therein any partnership [with Him], nor is there for Him from among them any assistant.
Transliteration
Qul ud'u alladhina za'amtum min duni Allah, la yamlikuna mithqala dharratin fi as-samawati wa la fi al-ardi wa ma lahum fihima min shirk, wa ma lahu minhum min zahir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) to challenge the polytheists to call upon their idols and false deities, demonstrating their complete powerlessness—they cannot even control the weight of an atom in the heavens or earth, nor do they have any share in the dominion of creation, nor can they help Allah in any way. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this ayah as a powerful refutation of shirk (polytheism), showing the absolute sovereignty of Allah alone and the utter futility of worshipping anything besides Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Saba, a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists' false beliefs. The broader context of this passage deals with the refutation of idolatry and the affirmation of Allah's unique authority. It was revealed during the Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from those who clung to idol worship.
Related Hadiths
The theme relates to Surah Al-Anfal 8:17 and the broader principle in authentic hadiths that 'nothing happens except by the will of Allah.' See also the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet taught that placing trust in Allah alone is essential, as no created being possesses independent power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that only Allah possesses true power and authority over all creation, making it irrational and spiritually destructive to worship or seek help from anything other than Him. In modern times, this principle extends to remind us not to place our trust, hope, or reliance on material possessions, human intermediaries, or worldly powers instead of Allah, as they all lack true ownership and control.