سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 86
وَلَا يَمْلِكُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿86﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession - except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly (i.e. believed in the Oneness of Allâh, and obeyed His Orders), and they know (the facts about the Oneness of Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And not
يَمْلِكُ
yamliku
have power
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those whom
يَدْعُونَ
yadʿūna
they invoke
مِن
min
besides Him
دُونِهِ
dūnihi
besides Him
ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةَ
l-shafāʿata
(for) the intercession
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَن
man
who
شَهِدَ
shahida
testifies
بِٱلْحَقِّ
bil-ḥaqi
to the truth
وَهُمْ
wahum
and they
يَعْلَمُونَ
yaʿlamūna
know
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 86) ➊ In the previous verse, the negation was made of the ownership of anything in the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them by “besides Allah”; in this verse, the ownership of intercession by them is also negated.
➋ There are two interpretations of this verse, both can be intended, and this is the miracle of the Quran. The first is that those beings whom the polytheists call upon thinking that they will intercede for them have no authority for intercession, except those who have borne witness to the word of truth, that is, “La ilaha illallah,” and not just verbally but also with conviction, such as the angels, Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, and other close servants of Allah. Since they bear witness to the truth (Tawheed) with certainty and have never commanded people to worship them, they will be able to intercede by Allah’s permission. As for idols and other false helpers and fulfillers of needs whom the polytheists worship, they will not even be able to save themselves but will become fuel for Hell; how could they intercede for anyone? The second interpretation is that before {’’ مَنْ شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ ‘‘}, the preposition “lam” is omitted: {’’أَيْ إِلَّا لِمَنْ شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ‘‘}, meaning that intercession will be permitted only for those for whom the testimony of truth, that is, the word “La ilaha illallah,” has been borne, and not just verbally but also with proper knowledge and conviction. As for the disbelievers or hypocrites, no one will intercede for them. For further details on intercession, see Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Maryam (87), Al-Anbiya (28), Saba (23), Najm (26), and Surah Naba (38).
➌ From this verse, it is also understood that only that testimony is valid which is given with knowledge. In the world, although every person who verbally bears witness to the word “La ilaha illallah” is considered a Muslim, on the Day of Judgment, only that testimony will be valid which is given with conviction of the heart.
➋ There are two interpretations of this verse, both can be intended, and this is the miracle of the Quran. The first is that those beings whom the polytheists call upon thinking that they will intercede for them have no authority for intercession, except those who have borne witness to the word of truth, that is, “La ilaha illallah,” and not just verbally but also with conviction, such as the angels, Isa (Jesus) عليه السلام, and other close servants of Allah. Since they bear witness to the truth (Tawheed) with certainty and have never commanded people to worship them, they will be able to intercede by Allah’s permission. As for idols and other false helpers and fulfillers of needs whom the polytheists worship, they will not even be able to save themselves but will become fuel for Hell; how could they intercede for anyone? The second interpretation is that before {’’ مَنْ شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ ‘‘}, the preposition “lam” is omitted: {’’أَيْ إِلَّا لِمَنْ شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ‘‘}, meaning that intercession will be permitted only for those for whom the testimony of truth, that is, the word “La ilaha illallah,” has been borne, and not just verbally but also with proper knowledge and conviction. As for the disbelievers or hypocrites, no one will intercede for them. For further details on intercession, see Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Maryam (87), Al-Anbiya (28), Saba (23), Najm (26), and Surah Naba (38).
➌ From this verse, it is also understood that only that testimony is valid which is given with knowledge. In the world, although every person who verbally bears witness to the word “La ilaha illallah” is considered a Muslim, on the Day of Judgment, only that testimony will be valid which is given with conviction of the heart.
