وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَآ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَنصُرُونَ 192
Translations
And they [i.e., the false deities] are unable to [give] them help, nor can they help themselves.
Transliteration
Wa lā yastṭāʿūna lahum naṣran wa lā anfusahum yanṣurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes the complete helplessness of idols, stating that they cannot provide assistance to their worshippers, nor can they even help themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a decisive refutation of idol worship, highlighting the logical absurdity of seeking aid from entities that are themselves powerless and incapable of self-preservation, thereby reinforcing monotheism (tawhīd) as the only rational path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within a broader Meccan passage (7:191-198) that systematically dismantles the practice of idol worship through rational argumentation. The context addresses the polytheists who attributed partners to Allah by crafting idols from wood and stone, and this specific verse concludes the logical chain demonstrating that such idols deserve neither worship nor reliance.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari (3.34.305) contains hadith material related to the futility of worshipping besides Allah. The theme resonates with various hadiths on tawhīd, such as those in Sunan Ibn Mājah regarding the severity of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to place their complete trust solely in Allah, as all other entities—whether idols, wealth, or human intermediaries—are inherently powerless. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to evaluate what or whom we rely upon in life and to redirect all hopes and petitions exclusively to the One True God.
Related Ayahs
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ فَقَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day."
وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَـٰهُم بِكِتَـٰبٍ فَصَّلْنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
And We had certainly brought them a Book which We detailed by knowledge - as guidance and mercy to a people who believe.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.
وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And to [the people of] Madyan [We sent] their brother Shuʿayb. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers.