Surah Anam ayat 81 Tafsir Quran 6:81

﴿وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا ۚ فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
[ الأنعام: 81]

6:81 And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know?

How should I fear what you have associated with God when it can neither profit nor harm and you fear not God in that you have associated with God in worship that for which He has not revealed to you any warrant?’ any argument or proof when He has power over all things. Which of the two parties has more right to security is it us or you if you have any knowledge of who has more right? In other words it is us so follow Him. God exalted be He says

And how should I fear those deities whom you incorporate with Him and you do not fear the consequences and the malignant fate awaiting you in requital of incorporating with Him other deities whom He never authorized! Which of the two parties, would then be safe and secure if only you knew

أَتُحَاجُّونِّى فِى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِى ( Do you dispute with me about Allah while He has guided me ).
The Ayah means, do you argue with me about Allah, other than Whom there is no god worthy of worship, while He has guided me to the Truth and made me aware of it Therefore, how can I ever consider your misguided statements and false doubts Ibrahim said next, وَلاَ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْئاً ( and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship.
(Nothing can happen to me ) except when my Lord wills something.) Ibrahim said, among the proofs to the falsehood of your creed, is that these false gods that you worship do not bring about any effect, and I do not fear them or care about them.
Therefore, if these gods are able to cause harm, then use them against me and do not give me respite.
Ibrahim's statement, إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْئاً ( except when my Lord wills something. ) means, only Allah causes benefit or harm. وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْماً ( My Lord comprehends in His knowledge all things.
) meaning, Allah's knowledge encompasses all things and nothing escapes His complete observation, أَفَلاَ تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ( Will you not then remember ) what I explained to you, considering your idols as false gods and refraining from worshipping them This reasoning from Prophet Ibrahim is similar to the argument that Prophet Hud used against his people, `Ad.
Allah mentioned this incident in His Book, when He said, قَالُواْ يَهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ - إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ - مِن دُونِهِ فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ - إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ( They said: "O Hud! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere ) saying! And we are not believers in you.
All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil." He said: "I call Allah to witness - and bear you witness - that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship with Him ( Allah ).
So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite.
I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has grasp of its forelock.
Verily, my Lord is on the straight path ( the truth ).") 11:53-56 Ibrahim's statement, وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ ( And how should I fear those whom you associate.
.. ) means, how should I fear the idols that you worship instead of Allah, وَلاَ تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـناً ( while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan. ) meaning, proof, according to Ibn `Abbas and others among the Salaf.
Allah said in similar Ayat; أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُواْ لَهُمْ مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ( Or have they partners who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed ) 42:21, and, إِنْ هِىَ إِلاَّ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـنٍ ( They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. ) 53:21 His statement, فَأَىُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالاٌّمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ( (So ) which of the two parties has more right to be in security If you but know.) means, which of the two parties is on the truth, those who worship Him in Whose Hand is harm and benefit, or those who worship what cannot bring harm or benefit, without authority to justify worshipping them Who among these two parties has more right to be saved from Allah's torment on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الاٌّمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُونَ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ), for them ( only ) there is security and they are the guided.) Therefore, those who worship Allah alone without partners, will acquire safety on the Day of Resurrection, and they are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter. Shirk is the Greatest Zulm ( Wrong ) Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah said, "When the Ayah, وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ ( and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ).) was revealed, the Companions of the Prophet said, `And who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' The Ayah, إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ ( Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong ) indeed.) 31:13, was later revealed." Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said, "When this Ayah was revealed, الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ),) it was hard on the people.
They said, `O Allah's Messenger! Who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' He said, «إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ الَّذِي تَعْنُونَ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا مَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ ( It is not what you understood from it.
Did you not hear what the righteous servant (Luqman ) said, يَبُنَىَّ لاَ تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ ( O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah.
Verily! Shirk is a great Zulm (wrong ) indeed.)) 31:13.
Therefore, it is about Shirk.
Allah's statement, وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ ( And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people. ) means, We directed him to proclaim Our proof against them.
Mujahid and others said that `Our proof' refers to, وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلاَ تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـناً فَأَىُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالاٌّمْنِ ( And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm ), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan.
( So ) which of the two parties has more right to be in security) Allah has testified Ibrahim's statement and affirmed security and guidance, saying; الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الاٌّمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُونَ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm, for them there is security and they are the guided. ) Allah said, وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ( And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people.
We raise in degrees whom We will. ) And; إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. ) He is All-Wise in His statements and actions, All-Knower of those whom He guides or misguides, and whether the proof was established against them or not.
Allah also said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ - وَلَوْ جَآءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ ءايَةٍ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ ( Truly! Those, against whom the Word (wrath ) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe.
Even if every sign should come to them -- until they see the painful torment.) 10:96-97 This is why Allah said here, إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. )

أَتُحَاجُّونِّى فِى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِى ( Do you dispute with me about Allah while He has guided me ).
The Ayah means, do you argue with me about Allah, other than Whom there is no god worthy of worship, while He has guided me to the Truth and made me aware of it Therefore, how can I ever consider your misguided statements and false doubts Ibrahim said next, وَلاَ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْئاً ( and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship.
(Nothing can happen to me ) except when my Lord wills something.) Ibrahim said, among the proofs to the falsehood of your creed, is that these false gods that you worship do not bring about any effect, and I do not fear them or care about them.
Therefore, if these gods are able to cause harm, then use them against me and do not give me respite.
Ibrahim's statement, إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْئاً ( except when my Lord wills something. ) means, only Allah causes benefit or harm. وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْماً ( My Lord comprehends in His knowledge all things.
) meaning, Allah's knowledge encompasses all things and nothing escapes His complete observation, أَفَلاَ تَتَذَكَّرُونَ ( Will you not then remember ) what I explained to you, considering your idols as false gods and refraining from worshipping them This reasoning from Prophet Ibrahim is similar to the argument that Prophet Hud used against his people, `Ad.
Allah mentioned this incident in His Book, when He said, قَالُواْ يَهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ - إِن نَّقُولُ إِلاَّ اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ قَالَ إِنِّى أُشْهِدُ اللَّهِ وَاشْهَدُواْ أَنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ - مِن دُونِهِ فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لاَ تُنظِرُونِ - إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُمْ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ ءاخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ( They said: "O Hud! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere ) saying! And we are not believers in you.
All that we say is that some of our gods have seized you with evil." He said: "I call Allah to witness - and bear you witness - that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship with Him ( Allah ).
So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite.
I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has grasp of its forelock.
Verily, my Lord is on the straight path ( the truth ).") 11:53-56 Ibrahim's statement, وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ ( And how should I fear those whom you associate.
.. ) means, how should I fear the idols that you worship instead of Allah, وَلاَ تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـناً ( while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan. ) meaning, proof, according to Ibn `Abbas and others among the Salaf.
Allah said in similar Ayat; أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُواْ لَهُمْ مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ( Or have they partners who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed ) 42:21, and, إِنْ هِىَ إِلاَّ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـنٍ ( They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. ) 53:21 His statement, فَأَىُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالاٌّمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ( (So ) which of the two parties has more right to be in security If you but know.) means, which of the two parties is on the truth, those who worship Him in Whose Hand is harm and benefit, or those who worship what cannot bring harm or benefit, without authority to justify worshipping them Who among these two parties has more right to be saved from Allah's torment on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الاٌّمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُونَ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ), for them ( only ) there is security and they are the guided.) Therefore, those who worship Allah alone without partners, will acquire safety on the Day of Resurrection, and they are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter. Shirk is the Greatest Zulm ( Wrong ) Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah said, "When the Ayah, وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ ( and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ).) was revealed, the Companions of the Prophet said, `And who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' The Ayah, إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ ( Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong ) indeed.) 31:13, was later revealed." Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said, "When this Ayah was revealed, الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong ),) it was hard on the people.
They said, `O Allah's Messenger! Who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' He said, «إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ الَّذِي تَعْنُونَ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا مَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ ( It is not what you understood from it.
Did you not hear what the righteous servant (Luqman ) said, يَبُنَىَّ لاَ تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ ( O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah.
Verily! Shirk is a great Zulm (wrong ) indeed.)) 31:13.
Therefore, it is about Shirk.
Allah's statement, وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ ( And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people. ) means, We directed him to proclaim Our proof against them.
Mujahid and others said that `Our proof' refers to, وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلاَ تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـناً فَأَىُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالاٌّمْنِ ( And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm ), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan.
( So ) which of the two parties has more right to be in security) Allah has testified Ibrahim's statement and affirmed security and guidance, saying; الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَـنَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الاٌّمْنُ وَهُمْ مُّهْتَدُونَ ( It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm, for them there is security and they are the guided. ) Allah said, وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ( And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people.
We raise in degrees whom We will. ) And; إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. ) He is All-Wise in His statements and actions, All-Knower of those whom He guides or misguides, and whether the proof was established against them or not.
Allah also said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ - وَلَوْ جَآءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ ءايَةٍ حَتَّى يَرَوُاْ الْعَذَابَ الاٌّلِيمَ ( Truly! Those, against whom the Word (wrath ) of your Lord has been justified, will not believe.
Even if every sign should come to them -- until they see the painful torment.) 10:96-97 This is why Allah said here, إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ( Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing. )

( How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him ) of idols, ( when ye fear not ) Allah ( to set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant ) no Scripture or proof? They threatened him with their gods, saying: we fear that if you vilify our gods, they will take away your sanity. ( Which of the two factions ) which of the adherents of the two religions: you or I ( hath more right to safety ) from the God Whom he worships? ( (Answer me that ) if ye have knowledge) of this.

And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority. (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."

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