أَجَعَلَ ٱلْـَٔالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ 5
Translations
Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing."
Transliteration
Ajacala al-alihata ilahan wahidan inna hadha lashaytun cujab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah records the astonishment and mockery of the Meccan disbelievers at the Prophet's call to monotheism, expressing their incredulity that Allah would be One alone rather than many gods. Ibn Kathir explains that the word 'ujab (عجاب) means something strange and extraordinary to them, reflecting their deep attachment to polytheism and their inability to comprehend the concept of pure tawhid. Al-Tabari notes this represents the psychological resistance of those whose fathers and ancestors had worshipped idols, making the call to exclusive monotheism seem absurd and revolutionary to their worldview.
Revelation Context
This ayah is set within the broader Meccan context where the idolaters of Quraysh continuously rejected the Prophet Muhammad's message of tawhid (monotheism). The surah Sad addresses the obstinate rejection and ridicule faced by the Prophet and his message, with this particular ayah exemplifying how the disbelievers found the concept of worshipping only one God to be incomprehensible and worthy of mockery rather than consideration.
Related Hadiths
The theme of tawhid being rejected by polytheists relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no god but Allah.' This illustrates the fundamental conflict between the message of monotheism and those attached to polytheism.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that resistance to monotheism often stems from ancestral tradition and societal conditioning rather than rational objection, encouraging patience in dawah (calling to Allah) while trusting that truth will eventually prevail over confusion and mockery.