سُوْرَةُ الشُّوْرٰي
Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 9
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۖ فَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ وَهُوَ يُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or have they taken (for worship) Auliyâ’ (guardians, supporters, helpers, protectors, lords, gods) besides Him? But Allâh - He Alone is the Walî (Lord, God, Protector). And it is He Who gives life to the dead, and He is Able to do all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَمِ
ami
Or
ٱتَّخَذُوا۟
ittakhadhū
have they taken
مِن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِۦٓ
dūnihi
besides Him
أَوْلِيَآءَ ۖ
awliyāa
protectors
فَٱللَّهُ
fal-lahu
But Allah
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلْوَلِىُّ
l-waliyu
(is) the Protector
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
and He
يُحْىِ
yuḥ'yī
gives life
ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ
l-mawtā
(to) the dead
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
(is) on
كُلِّ
kulli
every
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
thing
قَدِيرٌۭ
qadīrun
All-Powerful
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 9){ اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ اَوْلِيَآءَ … :} In the previous verse, it was stated that for the wrongdoers there is neither a protector (friend) nor any helper; this is its explanation: have they taken other than Allah as any protectors, supporters, and friends? So the real friend, who can truly support and help, is only Allah. Along with this, two powerful proofs are mentioned: He alone gives life to the dead and will give life, and He alone is fully capable of everything, because only the one who possesses these attributes has the right to be called so. Then what could be a greater injustice than to take such beings as protectors and supporters who, far from giving life to anyone, are themselves mortal? It is said: « اَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ اَحْيَآءٍ وَ مَا يَشْعُرُوْنَ اَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُوْنَ » [ النحل : ۲۱ ] "They are dead, not alive, and they do not know when they will be raised." To have power over everything is far off; they do not even own a speck. See Surah Saba (22).
