An-Nahl · Ayah 86

وَإِذَا رَءَا ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَهُمْ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُرَكَآؤُنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِكَ ۖ فَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ 86

Translations

And when those who associated others with Allāh see their "partners," they will say, "Our Lord, these are our partners [to You] whom we used to invoke [in worship] besides You." But they will throw at them the statement, "Indeed, you are liars."

Transliteration

Wa-idha ra'a alladhina ashrakoo shurakaa'ahum qaloo rabbana ha'ula'i shurakaa'una alladhina kunna nad'oo min doonika fa-alqaw ilayihimu al-qawla innakum lakadhiboon

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah depicts the scene on the Day of Judgment when those who committed shirk (polytheism) will see their false deities or intercessors, and will call out to Allah acknowledging these were their partners whom they invoked besides Him. In response, these false deities will deny any knowledge of this worship and will accuse the polytheists of lying, completely disassociating themselves. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize this represents the complete separation and rejection that will occur when the polytheists discover that their idols, angels, or saints had no power whatsoever and never endorsed their worship.

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter that extensively addresses the themes of Allah's signs in creation and the futility of polytheism. It appears within a broader passage (16:82-87) describing the judgment of idolaters and the denial of their false intercessors, serving as a warning to the Meccan polytheists about the consequences of their shirk.

Related Hadiths

The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi where Allah states on the Day of Judgment: 'I am the Most Proud of all in point of honour and it is incumbent upon Me to turn out humble anyone who vies with Me in point of honour' (Sahih Muslim 2227). Additionally, Surah Yunus 10:28-29 presents a similar theme where false deities will disown their worshippers.

Themes

Shirk (polytheism)Day of JudgmentFalse intercessorsDivine justiceDisassociation from false deitiesConsequences of idolatry

Key Lesson

This ayah serves as a profound warning that relying on anyone or anything besides Allah for intercession, blessing, or salvation is futile and will result in utter shame and abandonment on the Day of Judgment. Modern believers should reflect on any subtle forms of reliance on created beings rather than Allah alone, ensuring their worship and supplication are directed exclusively to the One True God.

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