سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 45
وَسْـَٔلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ ﴿45﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And ask (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint âlihâh (gods) to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious (Allâh)?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَسْـَٔلْ
wasal
And ask
مَنْ
man
(those) whom
أَرْسَلْنَا
arsalnā
We sent
مِن
min
before you
قَبْلِكَ
qablika
before you
مِن
min
of
رُّسُلِنَآ
rusulinā
Our Messengers
أَجَعَلْنَا
ajaʿalnā
did We make
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ
l-raḥmāni
the Most Gracious
ءَالِهَةًۭ
ālihatan
gods
يُعْبَدُونَ
yuʿ'badūna
to be worshipped
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 45) ➊ { وَ سْـَٔلْ مَنْ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُّسُلِنَاۤ … :} Here is a question: the previous messengers have passed away, so how can they be asked? The answer is that asking the messengers means to find out from their books, just as in Allah’s statement: « فَاِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِيْ شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوْهُ اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَ الرَّسُوْلِ» [ النساء : ۵۹ ] (Then if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger), the meaning now is not that if you have a dispute in any matter, take it to Allah and the Messenger in person, but rather that you should refer to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger. Similarly, the meaning of this verse is that by studying the teachings of all the previous messengers, see whether there is any mention that Allah has appointed any beings besides the Most Merciful to be worshipped, and whether any prophet has permitted shirk. Clearly, the answer is in the negative. There is neither any rational nor transmitted evidence in favor of shirk. (See Ahqaf: 4) The purpose of the verse is to make the Quraysh realize that all the prophets called to the worship of the One Allah; shirk has never been permissible in any Shariah, as He said: « وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَّسُوْلٍ اِلَّا نُوْحِيْۤ اِلَيْهِ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدُوْنِ» [ الأنبیاء : ۲۵ ] “And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.” And as He said: « وَ لَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِيْ كُلِّ اُمَّةٍ رَّسُوْلًا اَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَ اجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوْتَ » [ النحل : ۳۶ ] “And indeed We sent to every nation a messenger, [proclaiming], ‘Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.’”
➋ Some commentators have explained its meaning as: when you meet the prophets, as happened on the night of Mi’raj, then you should ask them this question. However, there is no mention in the Qur’an or hadith that you (ﷺ) asked any prophet this question on the night of Mi’raj or on any other occasion. If this were the meaning of the verse, then you (ﷺ) would certainly have asked them. Even if a weak narration mentions that you (ﷺ) asked the prophets this question, it holds no weight.
➋ Some commentators have explained its meaning as: when you meet the prophets, as happened on the night of Mi’raj, then you should ask them this question. However, there is no mention in the Qur’an or hadith that you (ﷺ) asked any prophet this question on the night of Mi’raj or on any other occasion. If this were the meaning of the verse, then you (ﷺ) would certainly have asked them. Even if a weak narration mentions that you (ﷺ) asked the prophets this question, it holds no weight.
