Surah Al-A'raf — Verse 195

Word Meanings:

• Arjul (أَرْجُل): legs/feet
• Yamshūna (يَمْشُونَ): they walk
• Aydin (أَيْدٍ): hands
• Yabṭishūna (يَبْطِشُونَ): they seize/attack with strength
• Aʿyun (أَعْيُنٌ): eyes
• Ādhān (آذَانٌ): ears
• Kīdūn (كِيدُونِ): plot/contrive against me
• Lā tunẓirūn (لَا تُنظِرُونِ): do not give me respite/delay

Tafsir (Explanation):

Allah, the Most High, rebukes the polytheists who worship idols and false deities, challenging their logic and exposing the utter helplessness of the objects they worship. He poses a series of rhetorical questions that strike at the very heart of their misguided devotion:

"Do these idols have legs with which they can walk and move about to serve you or come to your aid in your affairs? Do they have hands with which they can seize, defend you, or strike against those who wish you harm? Do they have eyes with which they can see, so they might inform you of what they observe that is hidden from you? Do they have ears with which they can hear, so they might convey to you what you cannot perceive?"

The answer, of course, is a resounding "No." These idols are made of stone, wood, or metal—lifeless, motionless, and utterly incapable of any action. They cannot walk, cannot grasp, cannot see, cannot hear. They possess none of the faculties that even a simple creature has, let alone the attributes of the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

So how can rational people worship such objects, hoping they will bring benefit or ward off harm, when they are completely devoid of any means to do so? This is the height of foolishness and a profound insult to human intellect.

Then Allah commands His Messenger ﷺ to address these idolaters with a challenge full of confidence and reliance on Allah alone: "Say: Call upon your partners (those you associate with Allah), then plot against me all together, and give me no respite!"

This is a bold, fearless challenge. The Prophet ﷺ is essentially saying: "Gather all your false gods, all your idols, all your allies—unite your forces and try your utmost to harm me. Do not delay. Do not give me any respite. Do your worst!" This is not arrogance; it is the confidence of one who knows with certainty that Allah is his Protector, his Helper, and his Guardian. When a believer places his complete trust in Allah, he fears nothing and no one.

This verse carries a powerful lesson for every Muslim: True strength lies not in numbers, wealth, or worldly power, but in sincere reliance upon Allah. When you stand with Allah, no force on earth can stand against you. The idols and false deities that people rely upon—whether they are statues, wealth, status, or human beings—are all helpless. Only Allah, the All-Powerful, the All-Seeing, the All-Hearing, deserves our worship, our trust, and our devotion.

So let this be a call to every soul: Free yourself from the chains of false dependence. Turn your heart entirely to Allah, who hears your prayers, sees your struggles, and answers your calls. He is the One who walks with you, guides you, protects you, and provides for you. No idol, no human, no material thing can do that. Put your full trust in Him, and you will find a peace and strength that nothing in this world can shake.