مَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ 74
Translations
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal. Indeed, Allāh is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Transliteration
Ma qadarullaha haqqa qadrihi, inna allaha laqawiyyun aziiz
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that people have failed to recognize and honor Allah's true majesty and greatness as befits His divine nature. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this refers to those who associate partners with Allah or diminish His attributes through their disbelief and denial. The ayah concludes by affirming that Allah alone possesses infinite power (Qawiyy) and might (Aziiz), emphasizing that no creature can diminish or challenge His supremacy.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Hajj's discussion of shirk (polytheism) and the disbelievers' rejection of monotheism. It directly addresses the Meccan polytheists who failed to comprehend Allah's absolute power and instead created false deities, thereby failing to give Allah His rightful due in worship and recognition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah, for Allah has said in Surah Al-Hajj: "They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him"' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasizes knowing Allah's names and attributes as a means of proper reverence.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must continuously reflect upon and honor Allah's infinite greatness, recognizing that no human conception can fully encompass His majesty, and that true faith requires acknowledging His complete power over all creation. This awareness should inspire humility, awe, and unwavering devotion in our relationship with the Divine.
Related Ayahs
وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُۥ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَهَادِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And so those who were given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord and [therefore] believe in it, and their hearts humbly submit to it. And indeed is Allāh the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.
وَإِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُنَا بَيِّنَـٰتٍ تَعْرِفُ فِى وُجُوهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلْمُنكَرَ ۖ يَكَادُونَ يَسْطُونَ بِٱلَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا ۗ قُلْ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمُ ۗ ٱلنَّارُ وَعَدَهَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, you recognize in the faces of those who disbelieve disapproval. They are almost on the verge of assaulting those who recite to them Our verses. Say, "Then shall I inform you of [what is] worse than that? [It is] the Fire which Allāh has promised those who disbelieve, and wretched is the destination."
وَلَهُم مَّقَـٰمِعُ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ
And for [striking] them are maces of iron.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ
O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allāh will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for it [i.e., that purpose]. And if the fly should steal from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued.