Surah Az-Zukhruf — Verse 9

Word Meanings:

• Al-ʿAzīz (العزيز): The Almighty, the Invincible, the One of absolute power and might who cannot be overcome.
• Al-ʿAlīm (العليم): The All-Knowing, the One whose knowledge encompasses everything, the seen and the unseen, the hidden and the manifest.

Explanation of the Verse:

O Messenger, if you were to ask these polytheists of your people — those who deny the truth and worship idols — "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would, without hesitation, answer: "The Almighty, the All-Knowing created them." They acknowledge this reality with their own tongues, confessing that the Creator of this vast universe is none other than Allah — the One whose might nothing can resist, and whose knowledge leaves nothing hidden, whether in the heavens above or the earth below.

Yet, despite this confession, they turn away and worship idols — lifeless stones and carved figures that can neither create nor provide, neither harm nor benefit. They affirm the Creator with their words but deny Him with their deeds, attributing partners to Him in worship while acknowledging His sole power of creation.

This verse highlights a profound contradiction in their logic: how can one recognize Allah as the sole Creator of the heavens and the earth, and then worship other gods alongside Him? The One who created everything deserves all worship, and none else has any right to it.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

Dear reader, pause and reflect on this truth that even the polytheists of Makkah could not deny. The heavens above you — with their stars, planets, and galaxies — and the earth beneath you — with its mountains, oceans, and all forms of life — testify to a Creator of infinite power and knowledge. When you look at the intricate design of a single leaf or the vastness of the night sky, can you truly believe that all of this came into being by chance?

The natural disposition of every human being recognizes this truth. It is only arrogance and blind following of tradition that leads people away from it. So let your heart submit to what your mind already knows: that Allah alone is the Creator, and therefore He alone deserves your worship, your love, and your obedience. This is the path to true peace and success in this life and the Hereafter.