سُوْرَةُ الْعَنْكَبُوْتِ

Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 42

The Spider · Meccan · Juz 20 · Page 401

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ﴿42﴾
Verily, Allâh knows what things they invoke instead of Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
إِنَّ inna Indeed
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
يَعْلَمُ yaʿlamu knows
مَا what
يَدْعُونَ yadʿūna they invoke
مِن min besides Him
دُونِهِۦ dūnihi besides Him
مِن min any
شَىْءٍۢ ۚ shayin thing
وَهُوَ wahuwa And He
ٱلْعَزِيزُ l-ʿazīzu (is) the All-Mighty
ٱلْحَكِيمُ l-ḥakīmu the All-Wise

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 42) ➊ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُوْنَ … :} It was possible that upon hearing the example of the spider, someone might wonder that Allah has made all of them as helpless and powerless as a spider, without exception. Some people worship idols, some worship fire, some worship water, while there are also those who worship and call upon angels and prophets and saints. Therefore, it is said that Allah knows all of them whom people call upon besides Him; if any of them had any power or authority, Allah would not have negated all of them entirely.
{ وَ هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ :} That is, Allah Himself is dominant over all; He does not need anyone’s help, and He is perfect in wisdom; He does not need anyone’s counsel.
➌ Another translation of this verse can be: “Indeed, Allah knows that these people do not call upon anything besides Him.” That is, those whom they call upon besides Him are nothing, and only He is the Mighty and Wise.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

42. Allah knows well whatever they call upon besides Him [67], and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise [68].

[67] This verse has two meanings. One is clear from the translation itself. The second meaning is that Allah knows well that all those things which these people call upon besides Allah have no reality whatsoever and are mere nothingness.
[68] That is, Allah neither desires the companionship of these false gods, because He Himself is the most powerful and dominant over all, nor does He need any kind of consultation from them, because He is the Absolute Wise, fully aware of the wisdom and benefit in every one of His actions.