Tafseer of The Night Journey · Al-Israa · 17:42
Say, [O Muhammad], "If there had been with Him [other] gods, as they say, then they [each] would have sought to the Owner of the Throne a way."
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.
The Exalted here addresses His prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: Say, O Muḥammad, to these polytheists (mushrikīn) who set up another god alongside Allah: if the matter were as you claim — that there are gods besides Him, though that is not so — then those gods would surely have sought nearness to Allah, the Possessor of the mighty Throne, and would have coveted His favor and high rank.
Thus Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning the word of Allah قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ آلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذًا لابْتَغَوْا إِلَى ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلا : he said: if there had been gods alongside Him, then they would have acknowledged His excellence, His rank, and His exalted position above them, and they would have sought that which brings them near to Him.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning إِذًا لابْتَغَوْا إِلَى ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلا : he said: they would surely have sought nearness to Him, though it is not as they claim.
