إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَـٰنًا مَّرِيدًا 117
Translations
They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan,
Transliteration
In yad'ūna min dūnihī illā ināthan wa in yad'ūna illā shayṭānan marīdā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns polytheistic idolatry, stating that those who worship besides Allah invoke nothing but female deities (goddesses like Al-Lāt, Al-'Uzzā, and Manāt worshipped by pre-Islamic Arabs), and in reality, they are only calling upon Satan, the rebellious one. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī emphasize that the mention of 'female' deities underscores the absurdity of shirk, as the pagans attributed daughters to Allah while denying them for themselves, and that all false worship ultimately leads to obedience of Satan regardless of the intermediaries invoked.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisā's broader discussion of monotheism and refutation of shirk (polytheism). It specifically addresses the Arabian pagan practice of worshipping female idols, which was widespread during the Jāhiliyyah (pre-Islamic period). The context follows discussions on the oneness of Allah and the consequences of associating partners with Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan At-Tirmidhi describes how shirk is the greatest sin that Allah will not forgive.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that any form of worship directed toward other than Allah—whether through idols, saints, or false deities—ultimately constitutes obedience to Satan and separation from divine guidance. Modern readers should reflect on how subtle forms of shirk (materialism, nationalism, celebrity worship) can replace proper devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ثَوَابَ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ ثَوَابُ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
Whoever desires the reward of this world - then with Allāh is the reward of this world and the Hereafter. And ever is Allāh Hearing and Seeing.
وَلْيَخْشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَـٰفًا خَافُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـٰتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًا
For wrongdoing on the part of the Jews, We made unlawful for them [certain] good foods which had been lawful to them, and for their averting from the way of Allāh many [people],
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allāh. But if you disbelieve - then to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh Free of need and Praiseworthy.