أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَـٰٓؤُا۟ شَرَعُوا۟ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ ٱلْفَصْلِ لَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 21
Translations
Or have they partners [i.e., other deities] who have ordained for them a religion to which Allāh has not consented? But if not for the decisive word, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, the wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Am lahum shurakaa'u shara'u lahum min ad-dini ma lam ya'dhan bihi Allah. Wa law la kalimatu al-fasl laqudiya baynahum. Wa inna az-zalimin lahum adhab alim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who ascribe partners to Allah (mushrikun) and fabricate religious laws and practices without Divine authorization. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this refers to pagans who invented idol worship and invented religious ordinances contrary to Allah's revelation. The phrase 'word of decision' (kalimat al-fasl) refers to Allah's decree delaying judgment until the Day of Resurrection; were it not for this, He would have punished them immediately for their fabrications.
Revelation Context
This surah, revealed in Mecca, addresses polytheism and the deviation of the Arab pagans who created their own religious practices without Divine sanction. The broader context of Surah Ash-Shuraa emphasizes consultation (shura), Divine guidance, and the rejection of human-invented religions that contradict Allah's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, it will be rejected.' (Sahih Bukhari 2697). Also relevant: 'The most evil matters are the newly-invented ones (bid'ah).' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1337)
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must strictly adhere to the Quran and Sunnah in matters of religion, rejecting any practices or beliefs introduced without Divine authorization, as inventing religious laws contradicts Allah's sovereignty and incurs severe punishment.