سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 20
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْـًٔا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those whom they (Al-Mushrikûn) invoke besides Allâh have not created anything, but are themselves created.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
And those whom
يَدْعُونَ
yadʿūna
they invoke
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
لَا
lā
not
يَخْلُقُونَ
yakhluqūna
they create
شَيْـًۭٔا
shayan
anything
وَهُمْ
wahum
but (are) themselves
يُخْلَقُونَ
yukh'laqūna
created
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah20){وَ الَّذِيْنَ يَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ … :} To describe the helplessness and incapacity of those whom these people call upon besides Allah, three attributes have been mentioned. The first is that they do not create anything; rather, they themselves are created. There is only one Creator, because if their deities are righteous or wicked deceased people, then their Creator is Allah, and they could not create anything in their lifetime nor can they now. For details, see verse (17) of this Surah, Surah Ra’d (16), and Surah Hajj (73). And if their idols or their graves are meant, then they too cannot create anything; rather, you yourselves carve them with your own hands, as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: «{اَتَعْبُدُوْنَ مَا تَنْحِتُوْنَ }» [ الصافات : ۹۵ ] “Do you worship that which you yourselves carve?” If your deities are carved idols or graves, then their Creator is also Allah, not you, as mentioned in the next verse: «{ وَ اللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَ مَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ }» [ الصافات : ۹۶ ] “While Allah created you and whatever you make.”
