Tafseer of The Bee · An-Nahl · 16:21
They are, [in fact], dead, not alive, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah, exalted is His praise, says to these polytheists (mushrikīn) of Quraysh: Those whom you call upon besides Allah, O people, أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ (are dead, not living). He, exalted is His praise, designates them as dead and not living, because there are no souls in them.
As Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning the words أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ : "These are the idols that are worshipped besides Allah — dead, without souls; they are unable to bring their worshippers any harm or benefit." The word "al-amwāt" (the dead) in the nominative has two possible functions: either as the predicate of "alladhīna" (those who), or as a new beginning of the sentence (ibtidāʾ).
The words وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ — He says: your idols whom you call upon besides Allah do not know when the resurrection will be. It has also been said that what is meant by it is the disbelievers: they do not know when they will be resurrected.
