Tafseer of The Prophets · Al-Anbiyaa · 21:99
Had these [false deities] been [actual] gods, they would not have come to it, but all are eternal therein.
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 be His praise, says to these polytheists (mushrikīn) whom He described with the words: مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ — and they are the polytheists of Quraysh — you, O polytheists, and that which you worship besides Allah, are the visitors of Hell (jahannam). Had that which you worship besides Allah been gods, they would not visit it; rather, they would even turn away from it whoever wishes to cast you into it, because you worshipped them in the world. But since they possess no benefit for themselves, nor any warding off of evil from themselves, they are even further removed than others from this capacity; and whoever is thus is clearly far removed from divinity. The true God is the One who has power over what He wills and over Whom nothing has power. Whoever is subjected to Him cannot, then, be a god.
His words (وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ) — that is to say: the gods and those who worshipped them abide eternally in the Fire, without end. The actual meaning of the sentence is: all of you abide therein eternally.
Thus also run the reports concerning this.
*Mentioned are those who say this:*
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His words (لَوْ كَانَ هَؤُلاءِ آلِهَةً مَا وَرَدُوهَا وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ): "The gods that the people worshipped — he said: the worshipper and the worshipped."
