أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنشِرُونَ 21
Translations
Or have they [i.e., men] taken for themselves gods from the earth who resurrect [the dead]?
Transliteration
Am ittakhadhu alihatan min al-ardi hum yunshirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah questions the polytheists' illogical worship of idols made from earth, asking whether these lifeless objects can resurrect the dead or provide any divine benefit. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a rhetorical challenge highlighting the absurdity of idolatry—how can earthly objects that cannot even resurrect themselves be worthy of worship or possess divine attributes? The ayah emphasizes that only Allah possesses the power of resurrection (inshirah) and eternal life.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-Anbiya, which addresses the fundamental Islamic concept of Tawheed (monotheism) against the backdrop of Meccan polytheism. The surah systematically refutes idol worship by highlighting the powerlessness of idols and affirming Allah's unique divine attributes, particularly His power over life and death.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The worst of the people are those who take the graves of their prophets as places of worship' (Sahih Muslim 532). This relates thematically to the prohibition against venerating created objects instead of Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to use reason and critical thinking in matters of faith, recognizing that worshipping anything other than Allah is logically indefensible and spiritually futile. It encourages us to question blind tradition and recognize that only the Almighty deserves our devotion, trust, and worship.