سُوْرَةُ مَرْيَمَ
Surah Maryam (19) — Ayah 42
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًٔا ﴿42﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِذْ
idh
When
قَالَ
qāla
he said
لِأَبِيهِ
li-abīhi
to his father
يَـٰٓأَبَتِ
yāabati
O my father
لِمَ
lima
Why
تَعْبُدُ
taʿbudu
(do) you worship
مَا
mā
that which
لَا
lā
not
يَسْمَعُ
yasmaʿu
hears
وَلَا
walā
and not
يُبْصِرُ
yub'ṣiru
sees
وَلَا
walā
and not
يُغْنِى
yugh'nī
benefits
عَنكَ
ʿanka
[to] you
شَيْـًۭٔا
shayan
(in) anything
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.
(Ayah 42) ➊ For the meaning of {’’ يٰۤاَبَتِ ‘‘}, see Surah Yusuf (4).
➋ From { اِذْ قَالَ لِاَبِيْهِ يٰۤاَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ …:} it is understood that the father of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was an idolater. For more, see Surah Al-An'am (74). Ibrahim (peace be upon him) advised him to abandon idol worship with utmost respect, gentleness, good character, and the best arguments, so that he would not reject the truth out of arrogance and stubbornness. Thus, first of all, he asked him the reason for worshipping those idols which have no value in the eyes of any intelligent person, whether he is learned or ignorant, let alone that they should be worshipped, which is the highest degree of reverence, love, and humility. Because worship should be for the One who is absolutely free of all needs, not dependent on anyone, the owner of all blessings, the Creator of all, the Provider, the Owner of life, death, reward, and punishment. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) drew his attention to the fact that a person of intellect must do whatever he does for a valid purpose. Anything or anyone that is alive, possesses intellect, hears, sees, can bring benefit or harm, but has come into existence from non-existence and whose authority is granted by someone else, sound intellect would feel ashamed to worship it, no matter how high a creation it is, such as a human or an angel, because it itself is dependent on that Being for its needs who is neither dependent on anyone for His existence nor for His continued existence. Then why worship idols made of stone, wood, or metal, or graves made of clay and bricks, which do not possess any qualities of living beings, which neither hear nor see, nor can benefit anyone? Why worship them?
➋ From { اِذْ قَالَ لِاَبِيْهِ يٰۤاَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ …:} it is understood that the father of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was an idolater. For more, see Surah Al-An'am (74). Ibrahim (peace be upon him) advised him to abandon idol worship with utmost respect, gentleness, good character, and the best arguments, so that he would not reject the truth out of arrogance and stubbornness. Thus, first of all, he asked him the reason for worshipping those idols which have no value in the eyes of any intelligent person, whether he is learned or ignorant, let alone that they should be worshipped, which is the highest degree of reverence, love, and humility. Because worship should be for the One who is absolutely free of all needs, not dependent on anyone, the owner of all blessings, the Creator of all, the Provider, the Owner of life, death, reward, and punishment. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) drew his attention to the fact that a person of intellect must do whatever he does for a valid purpose. Anything or anyone that is alive, possesses intellect, hears, sees, can bring benefit or harm, but has come into existence from non-existence and whose authority is granted by someone else, sound intellect would feel ashamed to worship it, no matter how high a creation it is, such as a human or an angel, because it itself is dependent on that Being for its needs who is neither dependent on anyone for His existence nor for His continued existence. Then why worship idols made of stone, wood, or metal, or graves made of clay and bricks, which do not possess any qualities of living beings, which neither hear nor see, nor can benefit anyone? Why worship them?
