سُوْرَةُ يٰسٓ

Surah Yaseen (36) — Ayah 23

Yaseen · Meccan · Juz 22 · Page 441

ءَأَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً إِن يُرِدْنِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ بِضُرٍّ لَّا تُغْنِ عَنِّى شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُنقِذُونِ ﴿23﴾
"Shall I take besides Him âlihah (gods)? If the Most Gracious (Allâh) intends me any harm, their intercession will be of no use for me whatsoever, nor can they save me?
ءَأَتَّخِذُ a-attakhidhu Should I take
مِن min besides Him
دُونِهِۦٓ dūnihi besides Him
ءَالِهَةً ālihatan gods
إِن in If
يُرِدْنِ yurid'ni intends for me
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ l-raḥmānu the Most Gracious
بِضُرٍّۢ biḍurrin any harm
لَّا not
تُغْنِ tugh'ni will avail
عَنِّى ʿannī [from] me
شَفَـٰعَتُهُمْ shafāʿatuhum their intercession
شَيْـًۭٔا shayan (in) anything
وَلَا walā and not
يُنقِذُونِ yunqidhūni they (can) save me

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 23) {ءَاَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ …:} Should I worship these living or dead beings instead of my Creator, that if the Most Merciful intends to harm me, their intercession will be of no use to me, nor will they be able to save me by force.

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.

23. 1. This is an explanation of the helplessness of those false deities whom his people used to worship. To bring them out from the misguidance of shirk, messengers were sent to them. The meaning of "cannot save" is that if Allah wants to harm me, these cannot save me.

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.

23. Should I take others besides Allah as gods? If the Most Gracious intends me any harm, their intercession would be of no use to me, nor could they save me [26].

[26] The fifth point he explained was that he does not at all believe in the ability of such so-called helpers to actually help in times of difficulty; that if my Lord were to put me in any trouble, neither do they have the power to save me from that trouble in opposition to Allah, nor can they intercede with Allah to deliver me from that difficulty. Though he was saying these things to himself, in reality, as the saying goes, "words are spoken by one but meant for others," he was making the whole nation hear that you should never make such powerless and helpless things your deities. And these very faults were found among the disbelievers of Makkah.