Surah Ahqaf ayat 4 Tafsir Quran 46:4

﴿قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ ۖ ائْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَٰذَا أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ﴾
[ الأحقاف: 4]

46:4 Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful."

Say ‘Have you considered say Inform me about what you invoke what you worship besides God? namely the idols min dūni’Llāhi constitutes the first object of the verb. Show me — inform me — arūnī repeated for emphasis what they have created mādhā khalaqū the second object of the earth mina’l-ardi the explication of mā ‘what part’. Or do they have any share any partnership in the creation of the heavens? with God? am ‘or’ has the significance of the rhetorical interrogative hamza of denial. Bring me a scripture that has been revealed before this Qur’ān or some vestige some remnant of knowledge transmitted from the ancients confirming the soundness of your claim that your worship of the idols brings you closer to God if you are truthful’ in your claim.

Say to them O Muhammad: Do you see those you people invoke besides Allah; if you consider them deities or creatures of diligence and capacity, then show me what in the world you live on did they form out of nothingness and brought into being and caused it to exist. Or do they claim participation in the process of the creation of the heavens, or do they assert that: part of it is their own! Say to them: Bring me a Book revealed before this Book-the Quran- wherein a deity has ordained idolism and brought it to book ! or bring me traces of knowledge and facts featured in a book if you truly speak like a book

Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Qur'an is a Revelation from Allah and the Universe is His True Creation Allah informs that He has revealed the Book to His servant and Messenger Muhammad -- may Allah's blessings be upon him until the Day of Judgement.
Allah then describes Himself as being of unimaginable glory, possessing ultimate wisdom in His statements and actions.
Allah then says, مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ( We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except in truth, ) meaning, not in idle play and falsehood. وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ( and for a specified term. ) meaning, for a fixed and specified duration that will not increase or decrease.
Allah continues, وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعْرِضُونَ ( But those who disbelieve, turn away from that of which they are warned. ) Meaning, the disbelievers are distracted from what is intended for them.
Allah has indeed revealed to them a Book and sent to them a Messenger.
Yet, they obstinately turn away from all of that.
Therefore, they will soon realize the consequence of their behavior. Refuting the Idolators Allah then says, قُلْ ( Say ) meaning, to these idolators who worship others besides Allah. أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ الاٌّرْضِ ( Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what they have created of the earth ) ( 46:4 ) meaning, `show me the place that they have independently created from the earth.' أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ ( Or have they a share in the heavens ) which means that they are not partners in anything in the heavens, nor on earth.
They do not own even the thin membrane covering a date's pit.
The dominion and control only belong to Allah, Exalted is He.
`How then would you worship others or join them as partners with Him Who guided you to that Who called you to that Did He command you to do it, or is it something that you suggested yourselves' Thus, He says, ائْتُونِى بِكِتَـبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَـذَآ ( Bring me a scripture prior to this ) meaning, `bring a book from among the Books of Allah that have been revealed to the Prophets, that commands you to worship these idols.' أَوْ أَثَـرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ ( or some trace of knowledge, ) meaning, `some clear evidence justifying this way you have chosen.' إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ( if you are truthful! ) meaning, `you have absolutely no evidence for that -- neither textual ( from revelation ) nor rational.' For this reason, some recited it; ( أَوْ أَثَرَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ) "or something inherited from knowledge" meaning, `or true knowledge that you have inherited from anyone before you.' This is similar to Mujahid's statement when he said, أَوْ أَثَـرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ ( or some trace of knowledge. ) "Or anyone who has inherited any knowledge." Allah then says, وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لاَّ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ غَـفِلُونَ ( And who is more astray than those who invokes besides Allah others who will not answer them until the Day of Resurrection, and who are unaware of their invocations to them ) meaning, no one is more misguided than those who invoke idols instead of Allah, asking them for things that they cannot give -- until the Day of Judgment.
They ( the idols ) are unaware of what he asks, they can neither hear, see, or act.
This is because they are inanimate, senseless stones.
Allah then says, وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَـفِرِينَ ( And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worship. ) This is similar to Allah's saying: وَاتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ءالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمْ عِزّاً كَلاَّ سَيَكْفُرُونَ بِعِبَـدَتِهِمْ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضِدّاً ( They have taken gods beside Allah, that they might give them dignity.
No! They will deny their worship of them, and will be opponents to them. ) ( 19:81, 82 ) meaning, they will betray them when they need them the most.
( Ibrahim ) Al-Khalil, peace be upon him, said: إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَـناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن نَّـصِرِينَ ( You have taken only idols besides Allah! The love between you is only in the life of this world.
On the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and you shall have no helpers. )( 29:25 )

(46:4) Tell them, (O Prophet): 'Did you consider those whom you call upon beside Allah? Show me, which part of the earth they created? Or do they have any share in creating the heavens? Bring to me any Scripture earlier than this one, or any vestige of knowledge (in support of your belief) if you are truthful. *4

Say, [O Muhammad], "Have you considered that meaning

*4) As the addresses are a polytheistic people they are being told the reality of the irrational crced in which they persisted carelessly due to lack of the sense of responsibility.
Along with acknowledging Allah as the Creator of the universe they had made many other beings their deities: they invoked them, regarded them as fulfillers of their needs and removers of hardships: prostrated themselves and made offerings before them, and thought they had the powers of making and unmaking of heir destinies.
About the same beings, they are being asked: " On what basis have you made them your deities ? " Obviously, there can be only two bases for regarding someone as an associate in worship along with Allah: either man himself should know through some means of knowledge that his deity too has a share in making the earth and heavens, or Allah Himself may have stated that soand-so also is His associate in the functions of Godhead.
Now, if a polytheist can neither make the claim that he possesses direct knowledge of his deity's being an associate of God, nor he can show in a Book sent by God that God Himself has appointed somebody as His associate, his creed would inevitably be baseless.

In this verse, " a Book revealed before this " implies a Book sent by Allah before the Qur'an, and " some remnant " of knowledge implies some part of the teachings of the Prophets and righteous men of the ancient times, which may have reached the later generations reliably.
There is no tinge of shirk in whatever man has received through these two means.
All the heavenly Books unanimously present the same Tauhid to which the Qur'an invites the people, and no existing remnant of the ancient lore bears evidence to this that some Prophet or saint or righteous man might have taught the people to serve and worship any other than God.
Even if we do not take a Book to mean a Divine Book and remnant of knowledge the knowledge bequeathed by the Prophets and righteous men, no authentic book or the research made by a scholar of religious or secular lore has pointed out that such and such a thing in the earth or the heavens has been created by such and such a saint or god, or a certain blessing of the-blessings of life which man 'is benefiting from in the universe has been created by such and such a deity instead of God.

 

Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Qur'an is a Revelation from Allah and the Universe is His True Creation Allah informs that He has revealed the Book to His servant and Messenger Muhammad -- may Allah's blessings be upon him until the Day of Judgement.
Allah then describes Himself as being of unimaginable glory, possessing ultimate wisdom in His statements and actions.
Allah then says, مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَآ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ ( We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except in truth, ) meaning, not in idle play and falsehood. وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ( and for a specified term. ) meaning, for a fixed and specified duration that will not increase or decrease.
Allah continues, وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعْرِضُونَ ( But those who disbelieve, turn away from that of which they are warned. ) Meaning, the disbelievers are distracted from what is intended for them.
Allah has indeed revealed to them a Book and sent to them a Messenger.
Yet, they obstinately turn away from all of that.
Therefore, they will soon realize the consequence of their behavior. Refuting the Idolators Allah then says, قُلْ ( Say ) meaning, to these idolators who worship others besides Allah. أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُواْ مِنَ الاٌّرْضِ ( Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what they have created of the earth ) ( 46:4 ) meaning, `show me the place that they have independently created from the earth.' أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ ( Or have they a share in the heavens ) which means that they are not partners in anything in the heavens, nor on earth.
They do not own even the thin membrane covering a date's pit.
The dominion and control only belong to Allah, Exalted is He.
`How then would you worship others or join them as partners with Him Who guided you to that Who called you to that Did He command you to do it, or is it something that you suggested yourselves' Thus, He says, ائْتُونِى بِكِتَـبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَـذَآ ( Bring me a scripture prior to this ) meaning, `bring a book from among the Books of Allah that have been revealed to the Prophets, that commands you to worship these idols.' أَوْ أَثَـرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ ( or some trace of knowledge, ) meaning, `some clear evidence justifying this way you have chosen.' إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ( if you are truthful! ) meaning, `you have absolutely no evidence for that -- neither textual ( from revelation ) nor rational.' For this reason, some recited it; ( أَوْ أَثَرَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ) "or something inherited from knowledge" meaning, `or true knowledge that you have inherited from anyone before you.' This is similar to Mujahid's statement when he said, أَوْ أَثَـرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ ( or some trace of knowledge. ) "Or anyone who has inherited any knowledge." Allah then says, وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لاَّ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ وَهُمْ عَن دُعَآئِهِمْ غَـفِلُونَ ( And who is more astray than those who invokes besides Allah others who will not answer them until the Day of Resurrection, and who are unaware of their invocations to them ) meaning, no one is more misguided than those who invoke idols instead of Allah, asking them for things that they cannot give -- until the Day of Judgment.
They ( the idols ) are unaware of what he asks, they can neither hear, see, or act.
This is because they are inanimate, senseless stones.
Allah then says, وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُواْ لَهُمْ أَعْدَآءً وَكَانُواْ بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَـفِرِينَ ( And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worship. ) This is similar to Allah's saying: وَاتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ءالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمْ عِزّاً كَلاَّ سَيَكْفُرُونَ بِعِبَـدَتِهِمْ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضِدّاً ( They have taken gods beside Allah, that they might give them dignity.
No! They will deny their worship of them, and will be opponents to them. ) ( 19:81, 82 ) meaning, they will betray them when they need them the most.
( Ibrahim ) Al-Khalil, peace be upon him, said: إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَـناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن نَّـصِرِينَ ( You have taken only idols besides Allah! The love between you is only in the life of this world.
On the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and you shall have no helpers. )( 29:25 )

( Say ) O Muhammad to the people of Mecca: ( Have ye thought on ) inform me about ( all that ye invoke ) worship ( beside Allah ) of idols? ( Show me what they have created of the earth ) what have they created of that which is in the earth. ( Or have they any portion in the heavens ) or had they any help in the creation of heavens? ( Bring me a Scripture before this (Scripture )) before this Qur’an to substantiate your claim, ( or some vestige of knowledge ) or a report from the men of knowledge; and it is said: a vestige of knowledge from past prophets ( (in support of what you say ), if ye are truthful) in what you say.

Say (O Muhammad SAW to these pagans): "Think! All that you invoke besides Allah show me! What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"

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