وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ مِنَ ٱلْحَرْثِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ نَصِيبًا فَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا لِلَّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَـٰذَا لِشُرَكَآئِنَا ۖ فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ فَلَا يَصِلُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَىٰ شُرَكَآئِهِمْ ۗ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ 136
Translations
And they [i.e., the polytheists] assign to Allāh from that which He created of crops and livestock a share and say, "This is for Allāh," by their claim, "and this is for our 'partners' [associated with Him]." But what is for their "partners" does not reach Allāh, while what is for Allāh - this reaches their "partners." Evil is that which they rule.
Transliteration
Wa ja'alu lillahi mimma dhara'a mina al-harth wa al-an'am nasiban faqalu hadha lillahi bi-za'mihim wa hadha li-shuraka'ina fama kana li-shuraka'ihim fala yasilu ila Allah wa ma kana lillahi fahuwa yasilu ila shuraka'ihim sa'a ma yahkumun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of dividing livestock and crops between Allah and their false deities (idols), yet paradoxically dedicating the portion meant for Allah to their partners while the portion for idols went to their priests and the poor. Ibn Kathir explains this was a senseless superstition where they claimed to honor Allah while actually honoring their false gods, contradicting monotheism. The ayah emphasizes the illogic and injustice of this practice, highlighting how their false gods could neither benefit nor harm them.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (revealed in Mecca), which extensively refutes polytheism and pagan practices. It addresses the ignorant customs of pre-Islamic Arabia where tribes would allocate portions of their harvests and livestock to idols while claiming some honor for Allah. The context exposes the inconsistency and futility of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (6:522) - The Prophet ﷺ stated that the worst thing in the eyes of Allah is shirk (polytheism), relating to this ayah's condemnation of associating partners with Allah. Additionally, hadith collections record that pre-Islamic Arabs would leave portions of crops and animals as sacrifices to their idols, which this ayah directly references.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to examine the logical inconsistencies of any belief system that contradicts monotheism—one cannot claim to honor Allah while simultaneously dedicating resources and devotion to false deities. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of sincere, undivided devotion to Allah free from cultural practices that contradict Islamic principles.