Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 71

(Ayah72,71) {قُلْ اَنَدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ …:} Say to them: Should we leave the straight path of Tawheed and fall back into Shirk? If we do so, our example will be like that of a person who is passing through a desert with his companions and falls into the clutches of devils, who lead him astray from the straight path and take him elsewhere, and he, bewildered and confused, does not understand what to do, while his companions are calling out to him: "Come to us, the straight path is this way," but he is so entangled in the devils' deception that he neither responds to his companions' call nor goes towards them. The meaning is that one who has gone astray by adopting disbelief and Shirk cannot return to guidance like a lost traveler. However, if Allah has destined guidance for him, then surely by Allah's Tawfiq he will find the way, because it is only Allah's work to guide to the straight path. For us, the command is that we submit ourselves before Allah, the Lord of all worlds, establish prayer, and remain fearful of Allah, with the conviction that on the Day of Resurrection, everyone will be gathered before Him.

71. 1 This is the example given of those people who, after faith, return to disbelief and after monotheism, turn back to polytheism. Their example is just like a person who gets separated from his companions who are walking on the straight path. And the one who is separated wanders bewildered and confused in the wilderness, while his companions are calling him, but in his confusion, he cannot comprehend anything, or due to being trapped by the jinn, it is no longer possible for him to return to the right path.

71. 2 The meaning is that the one who went astray by adopting disbelief and polytheism cannot come to guidance, just like a lost traveler. However, if Allah has destined guidance for him, then surely by Allah's enablement he will find the way. Because it is only His work to guide someone to the right path. As mentioned in other places: (فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَهْدِيْ مَنْ يُّضِلُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِّنْ نّٰصِرِيْنَ) 16. An-Nahl: 37) Whom He leads astray, and for them there will be no helper. But this guidance and misguidance occur according to the principle that Allah has established for it; it is not that He misguides whomever He wills and guides whomever He wills without reason, as has been explained in many places.

Say, “Shall we call upon others besides Allah, who can neither benefit us nor harm us, and turn back on our heels after Allah has guided us? Like one whom the devils have led astray in the wilderness, bewildered, while his companions call him to guidance, saying, ‘Come to us.’” Say, “Indeed, the guidance of Allah is the true guidance, and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds.”

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A Deity Cannot Be Dependent:

In this verse, a great reality is being stated, which is that the true deity can only be that being who can benefit others and remove their difficulties, but is not dependent on others for its own life and its continuation. If you judge by this standard, then all false deities—whether they are living personalities or deceased, goddesses or gods, stones or trees, or any other living thing—are all automatically negated. Let alone the jinn, idols, stones, trees, and living beings. Look at those prophets, saints, or imams who are given this status: did any difficult time ever come upon them in their lives? And if it did, were they able to save themselves from it? And if they could not save themselves, then how can they save others? If you keep this same standard in mind for seeking benefit or fulfilling needs, you will come to know that the only true deity can be Allah alone.

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The Polytheists’ Invitation to Their Companions:

Just as the path of guidance is only one and the paths of misguidance are countless, in the same way, the only fulfiller of needs and remover of difficulties for the worshippers of Allah is Allah alone, while the polytheists have countless fulfillers of needs and removers of difficulties. Take the age of ignorance in Arabia, where every tribe had its own fulfiller of needs and remover of difficulties: some had Hubal, some had Lat, some had Manat, some had Uzza, and some had Isaf and Naila. Then look at the goddesses and gods of India and Egypt; they too are countless. Christians, according to the doctrine of Trinity, have three gods, and they have also elevated Lady Mary to the same status as a fourth. Among Muslims, every saint, faqir, and elder is their fulfiller of needs and remover of difficulties. If offering vows and gifts at one grave does not fulfill their need, they go to the grave of another greater elder, and then to a third, and it is the devils who send them there. Now, they do not understand what to do; every worshipper of a deity invites them to their own deity and says, “Come here, all your wishes will be fulfilled here.” By giving this example of the polytheists, Allah Almighty tells His Messenger that there is no need for much debate and argument with them. Just say to them that Allah’s command to us is only this: that we remain obedient to Him alone, never look elsewhere, fear only Him, and establish prayer according to His command.