قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ 76
Translations
Say, "Do you worship besides Allāh that which holds for you no [power of] harm or benefit while it is Allāh who is the Hearing, the Knowing?"
Transliteration
Qul ata'budūna min dūnillāhi mā lā yamliku lakum darrān wa lā naf'ān wallāhu huwa as-samī'u al-'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to question the polytheists about their worship of idols and false gods that possess neither the power to harm nor benefit them. This ayah emphasizes the irrationality of associating partners with Allah, as only He possesses all power and knowledge. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this serves as a logical refutation of shirk (polytheism), highlighting that worship should be directed exclusively toward the One who truly holds all authority and influence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan context of Surah Al-Ma'idah, which addresses various disputes and misconceptions about faith. It specifically confronts the practice of idol worship and the Christian theological positions that were prevalent among the People of the Book during the Prophet's time, serving as a rhetorical challenge to those engaged in false worship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire.' (Sahih Muslim 93). Related to this ayah's emphasis on the futility of worshipping besides Allah, as such deities cannot intercede or provide benefit.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that only Allah possesses true power and knowledge, and therefore all devotion, worship, and hope should be directed toward Him alone. This ayah invites reflection on whether our actions and pursuits serve deities of our own creation—whether literal idols or metaphorical ones like wealth, status, or desires—rather than genuine submission to Allah.