Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 17

(Ayah17){اَفَمَنْ يَّخْلُقُ كَمَنْ لَّا يَخْلُقُ … :} All these blessings that have been mentioned, everyone knows and acknowledges that they are created by Allah alone, and those whom the polytheists call upon have neither created anything nor can they ever do so, nor can they even claim to do so (see Surah Al-Hajj: 73). So tell me, you have equated the Creator of everything with those powerless beings who cannot even create a fly’s wing—do you not understand this? Truly: «{ وَ مَا قَدَرُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهٖۤ }» [ الأنعام : ۹۱ ] “They did not appreciate Allah with the appreciation due to Him.” This subject is explained in detail in Surah Ar-Ra’d (16). Allama Zamakhshari has raised the question here that the word {’’مَنْ‘‘ } is used for those with intellect, so why is it used here for idols? Then he answered that since the polytheists considered them as fulfillers of needs and removers of difficulties, therefore, according to their belief, {’’ كَمَنْ لَّا يَخْلُقُ ‘‘} was said. However, the simple and correct answer is that they did not merely worship stones, but rather called upon those beings whose idols they made. For example, they had placed statues of Maryam, Ibrahim, and Ismail (peace be upon them) inside the Ka’bah, and had placed divining arrows in their hands. [ دیکھیے بخاری، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب قول اللہ تعالٰی : «و اتخذ اللہ إبراہیم خلیلا » : ۳۳۵۱، ۳۳۵۲ ] The idols of the people of Nuh were also statues of the friends of Allah. See the commentary of Surah Nuh (23). All these were people of intellect, in fact, they were teachers of those with intellect, so the question raised by Zamakhshari does not arise at all.