سُوْرَةُ الْجِنِّ
Surah Al-Jinn (72) — Ayah 18
وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿18﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone): so invoke not anyone along with Allâh.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَأَنَّ
wa-anna
And that
ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدَ
l-masājida
the masjids
لِلَّهِ
lillahi
(are) for Allah
فَلَا
falā
so (do) not
تَدْعُوا۟
tadʿū
call
مَعَ
maʿa
with
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
أَحَدًۭا
aḥadan
anyone
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.
The word {وَ اَنَّ الْمَسٰجِدَ لِلّٰهِ … : ’’ الْمَسٰجِدَ ‘‘ ’’مَسْجِدٌ‘‘} is the plural, its meaning is also prostrations (as a verbal noun) and also the places where prostrations are performed, i.e., mosques, and also the places, i.e., the limbs upon which prostration is made, i.e., the forehead, hands, feet, and knees (in both these meanings, it is an adverb of place). The meaning is that all prostrations are for Allah, the mosques are also for Him, and the limbs of prostration are also for Him, so then calling upon is also His exclusive right; do not call upon anyone else with Him. The word {’’ الْمَسٰجِدَ ‘‘} is so general that it does not refer only to those places built for worship, but every piece of land is included in it, because for this Ummah, the entire earth is a mosque.
From this verse, it is understood that calling upon anyone other than Allah is prohibited. Some people, in distress or illness, say “Ya Allah” along with “Ya Rasul Allah,” “Ya Ali,” “Ya Husayn,” and “Ya Shaykh Abdul Qadir,” etc., and call upon them for help; this act of theirs is not correct. For the prohibition of calling upon other than Allah, see Surah Yunus (10:106), Ra’d (14), Nahl (20, 21), Hajj (62, 73, 74), Mu’minun (117), Shu’ara (213), Qasas (88), Saba (22), Fatir (13, 14), and Surah Ahqaf (5). The reason for this is that calling upon is itself the essence of worship, and worship of anyone other than Allah is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ ] “Calling upon is worship.” Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: « وَ قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُوْنِيْۤ اَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ۠ عَنْ عِبَادَتِيْ سَيَدْخُلُوْنَ جَهَنَّمَ دٰخِرِيْنَ » [ المؤمن : ۶۰ ] “And your Lord said: Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are arrogant against My worship will soon enter Hell humiliated.” [Tirmidhi, Tafsir al-Qur'an, Chapter: And from Surah al-Mu'min: 3247. He also graded it Sahih in the Chapters on Supplications, Chapter: Regarding the virtue of supplication.]
From this verse, it is understood that calling upon anyone other than Allah is prohibited. Some people, in distress or illness, say “Ya Allah” along with “Ya Rasul Allah,” “Ya Ali,” “Ya Husayn,” and “Ya Shaykh Abdul Qadir,” etc., and call upon them for help; this act of theirs is not correct. For the prohibition of calling upon other than Allah, see Surah Yunus (10:106), Ra’d (14), Nahl (20, 21), Hajj (62, 73, 74), Mu’minun (117), Shu’ara (213), Qasas (88), Saba (22), Fatir (13, 14), and Surah Ahqaf (5). The reason for this is that calling upon is itself the essence of worship, and worship of anyone other than Allah is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلدُّعَاءُ هُوَ الْعِبَادَةُ ] “Calling upon is worship.” Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this verse: « وَ قَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُوْنِيْۤ اَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَكْبِرُوْنَ۠ عَنْ عِبَادَتِيْ سَيَدْخُلُوْنَ جَهَنَّمَ دٰخِرِيْنَ » [ المؤمن : ۶۰ ] “And your Lord said: Call upon Me, I will respond to you. Indeed, those who are arrogant against My worship will soon enter Hell humiliated.” [Tirmidhi, Tafsir al-Qur'an, Chapter: And from Surah al-Mu'min: 3247. He also graded it Sahih in the Chapters on Supplications, Chapter: Regarding the virtue of supplication.]
