Tafseer of The Romans · Ar-Room · 30:35
Or have We sent down to them an authority, and it speaks of what they were associating with Him?
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 explanation of the saying of the Exalted: أَمْ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُوا بِهِ يُشْرِكُونَ (30:35) ("Or have We sent down upon them an authoritative proof, which then speaks of that which they used to associate as partners?")
The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: Or have We sent down upon these who, in Our worship, associate as partners the idols and images, a writing that confirms the truth of what they say and the genuineness of what they do?
فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُوا بِهِ يُشْرِكُونَ ("which then speaks of that which they used to associate as partners") — that is to say: and that writing then speaks of the correctness of their shirk. The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, means by this only: that He has not sent down any writing concerning what they say and do, and has thereby not sent any messenger; it is only something they have invented and fabricated, following their desires.
And in agreement with what we have said about this, the exegetes have spoken.
* The mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His saying أَمْ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُوا بِهِ يُشْرِكُونَ, he said: that is to say: or have We sent down upon them a writing, which then speaks of their shirk?
