سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ 85
Translations
They will say, "To Allāh." Say, "Then will you not remember?"
Transliteration
Sayaqulun lillah. Qul afala tathakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical dialogue where the disbelievers will inevitably admit that all creation belongs to Allah when questioned about the ownership of the heavens and earth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to respond with a call to reflection and remembrance (tathakkur), implying that such obvious truths should prompt them to use their intellect and remember Allah's oneness. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah exposes the logical inconsistency of the polytheists who acknowledge Allah's sovereignty over creation yet associate partners with Him in worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Mu'minun within a series of rhetorical questions (verses 84-89) designed to intellectually challenge the disbelievers of Mecca. The broader context addresses the futility of idolatry by establishing that even the pagans recognize Allah as the true Creator and Lord, making their polytheistic practices logically indefensible.
Related Hadiths
The theme of remembrance (dhikr) and reflection is supported by the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said, 'The best remembrance is La ilaha illallah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah).' Additionally, Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:1-2 establishes that true believers are those who are khashi'un in their prayer and mu'riddun from al-laghw (those who turn away from vain talk), emphasizing the connection between intellectual acknowledgment and spiritual practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that intellectual honesty and sincere reflection on creation naturally lead to monotheism; even those who reject faith implicitly acknowledge Allah's absolute sovereignty. For modern believers, it reminds us to engage thoughtfully with our faith and to reflect deeply on the signs of creation as a path to strengthening our conviction and developing genuine consciousness of Allah.