Tafseer of The Pilgrimage · Al-Hajj · 22:12
He invokes instead of Allah that which neither harms him nor benefits him. That is what is the extreme error.
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 mention, says: if this one — who worships Allah only upon the edge — is struck by a trial (fitna), he falls away from the religion of Allah and calls upon, besides Allah, gods who cause him no harm if he does not worship them in this world, and who bring him no benefit in the Hereafter if he does worship them. ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلالُ الْبَعِيدُ — He says: his falling away, while he calls upon these gods besides Allah, is the following of a path without rectitude, and a far straying from the religion of Allah.
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word يَدْعُو مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لا يَضُرُّهُ وَمَا لا يَنْفَعُهُ : he disbelieves after his belief — ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلالُ الْبَعِيدُ .
