سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 21
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَةً مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنشِرُونَ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or have they taken (for worship) âlihah (gods) from the earth who raise the dead?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَمِ
ami
Or
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟
ittakhadhū
(have) they taken
ءَالِهَةًۭ
ālihatan
gods
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
هُمْ
hum
they
يُنشِرُونَ
yunshirūna
raise (the dead)
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 21) ➊ { اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْۤا اٰلِهَةً …:’’ اَمْ ‘‘} comes after an interrogative sentence, which is understood from the context at every place. Here, keeping the initial verses in view, the commentator Al-Biqa'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Have these people come to know that every being in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah Almighty and only His command prevails therein, and having known this, have they refrained from their misguidance? Or (despite knowing) do they persist in their stubbornness and have taken some deities from the earth who alone can breathe the soul of life? If not, and certainly not, then why do they consider such helpless beings as deities?"
➋ The meaning of {’’ اٰلِهَةً مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} is that the deities they have made all belong to the earth, whether idols or graves, trees or rivers, animals or humans or jinn, whether dead saints and helpers or living ones, all are from the same soil that is trampled underfoot. See their foolishness that they have made such insignificant beings, in the presence of that Lord, the granters of needs and removers of difficulties, who is not only the Lord of the earth but also of the Throne. In the next verse, in this context, it is said: «{ فَسُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ }» "So exalted is Allah, the Lord of the Throne, above what they describe." Who is the owner of both the heavens and the earth, and worship in both is for Him alone. See Surah Az-Zukhruf (84, 85).
➌ Al-Mawardi said: "There are two opinions about this. One is that its meaning is {’’يَخْلُقُوْنَ‘‘}, i.e., they create; this is the opinion of Qutrub. The second is that its meaning is {’’ يُحْيُوْنَ ‘‘}, i.e., they will resurrect; this is the opinion of Mujahid. In reality, this word is used in both senses. The first meaning is supported by Surah Ar-Rum, verse (20), and the second meaning by Surah Abasa, verse (19). The meaning is: Have they made any such deities who create for the first time or will resurrect? This attribute belongs only to Allah Almighty. He said: «{ وَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيْدُهٗ وَ هُوَ اَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ }» [ الروم : ۲۷] "And He is the One who originates the creation, then repeats it, and that is even easier for Him." No one besides Him can create nor resurrect. See Surah Al-Furqan (3).
➍ {هُمْ يُنْشِرُوْنَ :} means: Do they have any such deities who alone grant life and will resurrect as well? This is a mockery of their deities: just look at their status, as if they alone are doing all this in comparison to Allah Almighty.
➎ Ibn Juzayy (may Allah have mercy on him) related {’’ مِنَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} to {’’ يُنْشِرُوْنَ ‘‘}, in which case the meaning would be: Or have they made any such deities who will resurrect (people) from the earth?
➋ The meaning of {’’ اٰلِهَةً مِّنَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} is that the deities they have made all belong to the earth, whether idols or graves, trees or rivers, animals or humans or jinn, whether dead saints and helpers or living ones, all are from the same soil that is trampled underfoot. See their foolishness that they have made such insignificant beings, in the presence of that Lord, the granters of needs and removers of difficulties, who is not only the Lord of the earth but also of the Throne. In the next verse, in this context, it is said: «{ فَسُبْحٰنَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ }» "So exalted is Allah, the Lord of the Throne, above what they describe." Who is the owner of both the heavens and the earth, and worship in both is for Him alone. See Surah Az-Zukhruf (84, 85).
➌ Al-Mawardi said: "There are two opinions about this. One is that its meaning is {’’يَخْلُقُوْنَ‘‘}, i.e., they create; this is the opinion of Qutrub. The second is that its meaning is {’’ يُحْيُوْنَ ‘‘}, i.e., they will resurrect; this is the opinion of Mujahid. In reality, this word is used in both senses. The first meaning is supported by Surah Ar-Rum, verse (20), and the second meaning by Surah Abasa, verse (19). The meaning is: Have they made any such deities who create for the first time or will resurrect? This attribute belongs only to Allah Almighty. He said: «{ وَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيْدُهٗ وَ هُوَ اَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ }» [ الروم : ۲۷] "And He is the One who originates the creation, then repeats it, and that is even easier for Him." No one besides Him can create nor resurrect. See Surah Al-Furqan (3).
➍ {هُمْ يُنْشِرُوْنَ :} means: Do they have any such deities who alone grant life and will resurrect as well? This is a mockery of their deities: just look at their status, as if they alone are doing all this in comparison to Allah Almighty.
➎ Ibn Juzayy (may Allah have mercy on him) related {’’ مِنَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘} to {’’ يُنْشِرُوْنَ ‘‘}, in which case the meaning would be: Or have they made any such deities who will resurrect (people) from the earth?
