مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ هَلْ يَنصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنتَصِرُونَ 93
Translations
Other than Allāh? Can they help you or help themselves?"
Transliteration
Min dooni Allahi hal yansuroonakum aw yantasiroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah appears in the context of the Day of Judgment where Allah questions the disbelievers about their idols and false deities, asking whether these gods besides Allah can help them or help themselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this rhetorical question emphasizes the absolute powerlessness of idols and the futility of relying on anything other than Allah, as only the Almighty possesses true power and authority. The ayah serves as a powerful reminder of tawhid (monotheism) and the rejection of polytheism, highlighting that on the Day of Judgment, all false objects of worship will be unable to provide any assistance.
Revelation Context
Surah Ash-Shu'ara is a Meccan surah revealed during the period when the Quraysh were staunchly rejecting the message of monotheism. This ayah is part of a broader section (verses 88-104) describing scenes from the Day of Judgment, where the consequences of shirk (polytheism) become evident. The ayah contextualizes the spiritual blindness of those who ascribe partners to Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Bukhari: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire.' This hadith reinforces the theme of this ayah regarding the consequences of relying on false deities instead of Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
In times of hardship and uncertainty, believers should recognize that only Allah possesses the power to help and protect, and that placing trust in anything besides Him—whether material wealth, influential people, or false ideologies—will ultimately prove futile. This ayah encourages complete reliance on Allah (tawakkul) as the foundation of true security and deliverance.