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
وَلَئِنْ أَصَـٰبَكُمْ فَضْلٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لَيَقُولَنَّ كَأَن لَّمْ تَكُنۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُۥ مَوَدَّةٌ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى كُنتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَفُوزَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا
But if bounty comes to you from Allāh, he will surely say, as if [i.e., showing that] there had never been between you and him any affection, "Oh, I wish I had been with them so I could have attained a great attainment."
ٱلَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا
Who are stingy and enjoin upon [other] people stinginess and conceal what Allāh has given them of His bounty - and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment -
۞ فَلْيُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشْرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَن يُقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَيُقْتَلْ أَوْ يَغْلِبْ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
So let those fight in the cause of Allāh who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. And he who fights in the cause of Allāh and is killed or achieves victory - We will bestow upon him a great reward.
بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
Rather, Allāh raised him to Himself. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.