سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْقَافِ
Surah Al-Ahqaf (46) — Ayah 4
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ۖ ٱئْتُونِى بِكِتَـٰبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَـٰذَآ أَوْ أَثَـٰرَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿4﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to these pagans): "Think you about all that you invoke besides Allâh? Show me. What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
أَرَءَيْتُم
ara-aytum
Do you see
مَّا
mā
what
تَدْعُونَ
tadʿūna
you call
مِن
min
besides
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
أَرُونِى
arūnī
Show me
مَاذَا
mādhā
what
خَلَقُوا۟
khalaqū
they have created
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
أَمْ
am
or
لَهُمْ
lahum
for them
شِرْكٌۭ
shir'kun
(is) any share
فِى
fī
in
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ۖ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
ٱئْتُونِى
i'tūnī
Bring me
بِكِتَـٰبٍۢ
bikitābin
a book
مِّن
min
from
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
this
أَوْ
aw
or
أَثَـٰرَةٍۢ
athāratin
a trace
مِّنْ
min
of
عِلْمٍ
ʿil'min
knowledge
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
صَـٰدِقِينَ
ṣādiqīna
truthful
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
4. Say, "Have you considered those whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or do they have any share [4] in the creation of the heavens? Bring me any scripture revealed before this, or any trace of knowledge [5], if you are truthful."
[4]
The Demand for Rational Proof from the Polytheists Regarding Shirk:
In the previous verses, the denial of the Hereafter by the polytheists of Makkah was refuted. In this verse and the following verses, their shirk is being criticized. They are being asked to state any reason for worshipping those whom they worship besides Allah. Only that being can be worthy of worship who has any role in the creation of the universe. Tell us, which thing in this universe have they created? Or which part of the earth or the heavens have they made? And if they have not created anything, then how did they become the owners of something in which they have the authority to exercise control?
[5]
The Demand for Scriptural or Traditional Proof:
On one hand, you admit that your deities have no share or partnership in the creation of the universe. On the other hand, you keep insisting that they have authority to exercise control in the universe. They can fix our problems, and if they are disrespected, they can also take revenge. So, this is wrong from a rational perspective. Then, if you cannot present a rational proof, at least present a scriptural proof. Show us anywhere in the Book of Allah where it is written that others besides Allah also have some authority in the universe. Or that certain authorities of Allah, for example, the giving of sustenance, have been delegated to such-and-such idol, deity, or saint, and certain authorities, for example, giving life, have been entrusted to someone else. And if such a statement is not present in the Divine Book, then show it from any scholarly tradition. What is meant by traditions? By scholarly tradition is meant those commentaries and explanations of the Book of Allah which are authentic. (For example, we have the Book of Allah, the Noble Quran, and the practical tradition is the Ahadith, in which the chain of transmission is also mentioned, through which it can be investigated what status a particular hadith holds and whether it is accepted or rejected.) And if you have neither any rational proof nor any scriptural proof, then understand that your beliefs are based merely on conjecture and illusions.
[4]
The Demand for Rational Proof from the Polytheists Regarding Shirk:
In the previous verses, the denial of the Hereafter by the polytheists of Makkah was refuted. In this verse and the following verses, their shirk is being criticized. They are being asked to state any reason for worshipping those whom they worship besides Allah. Only that being can be worthy of worship who has any role in the creation of the universe. Tell us, which thing in this universe have they created? Or which part of the earth or the heavens have they made? And if they have not created anything, then how did they become the owners of something in which they have the authority to exercise control?
[5]
The Demand for Scriptural or Traditional Proof:
On one hand, you admit that your deities have no share or partnership in the creation of the universe. On the other hand, you keep insisting that they have authority to exercise control in the universe. They can fix our problems, and if they are disrespected, they can also take revenge. So, this is wrong from a rational perspective. Then, if you cannot present a rational proof, at least present a scriptural proof. Show us anywhere in the Book of Allah where it is written that others besides Allah also have some authority in the universe. Or that certain authorities of Allah, for example, the giving of sustenance, have been delegated to such-and-such idol, deity, or saint, and certain authorities, for example, giving life, have been entrusted to someone else. And if such a statement is not present in the Divine Book, then show it from any scholarly tradition. What is meant by traditions? By scholarly tradition is meant those commentaries and explanations of the Book of Allah which are authentic. (For example, we have the Book of Allah, the Noble Quran, and the practical tradition is the Ahadith, in which the chain of transmission is also mentioned, through which it can be investigated what status a particular hadith holds and whether it is accepted or rejected.) And if you have neither any rational proof nor any scriptural proof, then understand that your beliefs are based merely on conjecture and illusions.
