لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ 14
Translations
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility].
Transliteration
Lahu da'watul-haqq. Wal-ladhina yad'una min dunihee la yastajibuna lahum bi-shay'in illā ka-bāsiṭi kaffayhi ilal-māi li-yablugha fāhu wa-mā huwa bi-bālighih. Wa-mā du'āul-kāfirīna illā fī ḍalāl.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contrasts the true invocation (du'a) directed to Allah alone with the futile supplications made to false deities and idols. The likeness of those calling upon false gods is compared to someone stretching his hands toward water, hoping it will reach his mouth—an impossible and futile gesture. Classical tafsir scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that the comparison illustrates the utter helplessness of idols to respond to or benefit their worshippers, emphasizing that only Allah possesses the true right to be called upon and supplicated to.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Ra'd, a Medinan chapter addressing polytheistic practices and false beliefs. The broader context of the surah refutes shirk (polytheism) and establishes the absolute oneness of Allah and His sovereign power. This particular verse responds to the pagan Arab practice of invoking idols and departed saints alongside or instead of Allah, demonstrating the spiritual bankruptcy of such practices.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The supplication is the worship itself' (Hadith narrated by Tirmidhi and others), emphasizing that du'a to Allah alone is an act of worship. Additionally, the hadith 'When you ask, ask of Allah; when you seek help, seek it from Allah' (Tirmidhi) reinforces the principle that all invocations should be directed exclusively to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True spiritual fulfillment comes only through sincere supplication to Allah alone; reliance on false hopes, material means disconnected from divine guidance, or turning away from monotheism is as fruitless as trying to drink water by merely gesturing toward it. Muslims today are reminded to place their complete trust and du'a exclusively with Allah, rejecting all forms of spiritual intermediaries that contradict Islamic monotheism.