تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ 17
Translations
It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience]
Transliteration
Tada'oon man adbara wa tawallaa
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the futility of calling upon those who turn away and reject the truth, particularly referring to idols or false deities that cannot hear or respond. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as highlighting the inability of created beings or inanimate objects to respond to supplication, emphasizing that only Allah possesses the power to hear and answer prayers. The ayah criticizes polytheism by demonstrating the logical absurdity of seeking help from those who deliberately turn away from guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Ma'arij, which is a Meccan surah addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who rejected the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The broader context of the surah discusses the reality of the Day of Judgment and the futility of those who deny it, with this ayah specifically critiquing the worship of idols and false objects of devotion that cannot possibly help their worshippers.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The supplication of one of you is answered as long as he does not supplicate for something sinful or for the severing of family ties, and as long as he does not grow impatient.' This emphasizes that true supplication is only answered by Allah, not by those who turn away.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that seeking help or making supplications to anything or anyone other than Allah is pointless and illogical, reinforcing the core Islamic principle of Tawhid (monotheism). In modern context, it reminds us to direct all our hopes, fears, and supplications exclusively to Allah, rejecting any form of intermediary worship or reliance on created beings.