سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 117
إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَـٰنًا مَّرِيدًا ﴿117﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They (all those who worship others than Allâh) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him (Allâh), and they invoke nothing but Shaitân (Satan), a persistent rebel!
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِن
in
Not
يَدْعُونَ
yadʿūna
they invoke
مِن
min
from
دُونِهِۦٓ
dūnihi
besides Him
إِلَّآ
illā
but
إِنَـٰثًۭا
ināthan
female (deities)
وَإِن
wa-in
and not
يَدْعُونَ
yadʿūna
they invoke
إِلَّا
illā
except
شَيْطَـٰنًۭا
shayṭānan
Shaitaan
مَّرِيدًۭا
marīdan
rebellious
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 117) ➊ {”اِنٰثًا“ ”أُنْثَي“} is the plural, meaning feminine. By this is meant either idols, most of whose names (Lat, Manat, Uzza, etc.) were feminine, or angels. Because the polytheists used to consider them as the daughters of Allah and worshipped them. The Greeks and Hindus have also made goddesses for worship. Muslims, following them, have attributed such qualities to such beings as if, God forbid, they are beloveds of Allah, and in their view, those who are spiritually advanced even adopt the appearance of women—the same bangles, the same jewelry, etc. Whereas the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) cursed the man who wears women's clothing and the woman who wears men's clothing. [ صحیح ابن حبان : ۵۷۵۲، عن أبی ہریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ و صححہ محققہ ]
➋ { وَ اِنْ يَّدْعُوْنَ …:} In this verse, Allah has explained shirk (associating partners with Him) as calling upon anyone other than Allah, because the essence of worship is supplication, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ اَلدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ ] "Supplication is worship itself." [ ترمذی، الدعوات، باب منہ [ الدعاء مخ العبادۃ ]: 3372. Abu Dawood: 1479] And see Surah Al-Mu’min (60). Whoever calls upon anyone other than Allah for unseen help is a polytheist, because worship is nothing but this supplication. In fact, all forms of worship—standing, bowing, prostration, vows and offerings, and supplication, etc.—their real purpose is to ask someone, considering them the owner of unseen powers. If someone does this with Allah, he asks from Him; if he does it with others, he asks from them.
➌ { شَيْطٰنًا مَّرِيْدًا:} Those who worship idols, angels, goddesses, and other beings, in reality, no matter whom they think they are worshipping, they are actually worshipping the rebellious Satan, because it is Satan who diverts them from the door of Allah and makes them bow at the thresholds and doorsteps of others, as mentioned in the next verse. Those whom they worship have no idea that anyone is calling upon them. See Surah Al-Ahqaf (5, 6) and Yunus (28, 29). These people are only worshipping beings created by their own imagination at the suggestion of Satan. See Surah An-Najm (23) and Yunus (66).
➋ { وَ اِنْ يَّدْعُوْنَ …:} In this verse, Allah has explained shirk (associating partners with Him) as calling upon anyone other than Allah, because the essence of worship is supplication, as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ اَلدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ ] "Supplication is worship itself." [ ترمذی، الدعوات، باب منہ [ الدعاء مخ العبادۃ ]: 3372. Abu Dawood: 1479] And see Surah Al-Mu’min (60). Whoever calls upon anyone other than Allah for unseen help is a polytheist, because worship is nothing but this supplication. In fact, all forms of worship—standing, bowing, prostration, vows and offerings, and supplication, etc.—their real purpose is to ask someone, considering them the owner of unseen powers. If someone does this with Allah, he asks from Him; if he does it with others, he asks from them.
➌ { شَيْطٰنًا مَّرِيْدًا:} Those who worship idols, angels, goddesses, and other beings, in reality, no matter whom they think they are worshipping, they are actually worshipping the rebellious Satan, because it is Satan who diverts them from the door of Allah and makes them bow at the thresholds and doorsteps of others, as mentioned in the next verse. Those whom they worship have no idea that anyone is calling upon them. See Surah Al-Ahqaf (5, 6) and Yunus (28, 29). These people are only worshipping beings created by their own imagination at the suggestion of Satan. See Surah An-Najm (23) and Yunus (66).
