سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ 87
Translations
They will say, "[They belong] to Allāh." Say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
Transliteration
Sayaqooloon lillaah, qul afalaa tattaqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the disbelievers' acknowledgment that Allah alone is the Creator and Lord of all things, yet they refuse to act upon this knowledge by avoiding shirk and sin. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is commanded to challenge them rhetorically: if they truly believe Allah is the sole Lord, why do they not fear Him and obey His commandments? Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this represents a profound contradiction—those who confess Allah's lordship while engaging in polytheism and disobedience expose the hollowness of their faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Mu'minun's broader theme of refuting polytheism and establishing monotheism. The surrounding verses (23:84-89) present a series of rhetorical questions posed to the disbelievers about creation and divine lordship, to which they can only respond 'Allah.' This sequence emphasizes that the Quraysh's own testimony contradicts their idolatrous practices, highlighting the irrationality of their position.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said, 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah while He alone has created you' (Hadith on Shirk). Additionally, Tirmidhi records that taqwa (God-consciousness) is the foundation of all good deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that mere verbal acknowledgment of Allah's lordship is insufficient without corresponding action and obedience—true faith requires aligning our beliefs with our conduct and maintaining consciousness of Allah in all we do.