سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 12
يَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُۥ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُۥ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
He calls besides Allâh unto that which can neither harm him, nor profit him. That is a straying far away.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَدْعُوا۟
yadʿū
He calls
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
مَا
mā
what
لَا
lā
not
يَضُرُّهُۥ
yaḍurruhu
harms him
وَمَا
wamā
and what
لَا
lā
not
يَنفَعُهُۥ ۚ
yanfaʿuhu
benefits him
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
هُوَ
huwa
[it]
ٱلضَّلَـٰلُ
l-ḍalālu
(is) the straying
ٱلْبَعِيدُ
l-baʿīdu
far away
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 12){يَدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهٗ وَ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُهٗ …:} Some people take {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} to mean only idols and say that the friends of Allah are not {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘}. However, {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} refers to everything other than the pure essence of Allah Almighty, whether they are idols or graves, trees or animals, such as cows, whether they are humans or jinn or angels, living or dead, righteous or wicked, all are {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘}, because whatever exists is either Allah or {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ۔‘‘}. If saints and prophets are not considered {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘}, then they would have to be considered Allah. Then what would be the meaning of {’’وحده لا شريك له‘‘} and {’’ قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ اَحَدٌ ‘‘}? The reality is that everything except Allah Almighty is {’’ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} (other than Allah). See also Surah An-Nahl (20, 73).
