سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ

Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 192

The Heights · Meccan · Juz 9 · Page 175

وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُمْ نَصْرًا وَلَآ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَنصُرُونَ ﴿192﴾
No help can they give them, nor can they help themselves.
وَلَا walā And not
يَسْتَطِيعُونَ yastaṭīʿūna they are able
لَهُمْ lahum to (give) them
نَصْرًۭا naṣran any help
وَلَآ walā and not
أَنفُسَهُمْ anfusahum themselves
يَنصُرُونَ yanṣurūna can they help

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.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

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.

192. They can neither help them, nor can they help themselves [191].

[191]
A Needy Being Cannot Be a Deity:

That is, firstly, there are Allah’s living creations whom you make deities, such as angels or prophets and saints, etc., who are considered or have been considered fulfillers of needs and removers of difficulties—these too cannot be deities. Then, how can those stone idols that you make and elevate to the status of divinity and begin to worship, be deities? They cannot even drive away a fly from their own faces, so how can they help you? And how can they guide you, for if you yourself call them towards the path, they cannot even come; whether you call them or not, it is the same, because they cannot move at all.