Tafseer of The Groups · Az-Zumar · 39:43
Or have they taken other than Allah as intercessors? Say, "Even though they do not possess [power over] anything, nor do they reason?"
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: Or have they taken intercessors besides Allah? Say: "Even though they possess nothing and understand nothing?" (39:43)
The Exalted, whose mention is lofty, says: or have these polytheists (mushrikīn), who assign associates to Allah, taken besides Him their idols, which they worship, as intercessors who would mediate for them with Allah in their needs? And His saying: ( Say: "Even though they possess nothing and understand nothing?" ) — the Exalted, whose mention is lofty, says to His Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ: say, O Muḥammad, to them: do you take these gods as intercessors, as you claim, even though they possess for you neither benefit nor harm, and understand nothing? Say to them: if you worship them for that purpose, so that they may mediate for you with Allah, then devote your worship purely to Allah, and hold Him alone to be the divine being, for intercession belongs wholly to Him; with Him none mediates except whom He permits to do so and whose word is pleasing to Him. And when you devote worship purely to Him and call upon Him, then He will accept your intercession. ( To Him belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth ) — He says: to Him belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth and the kingship over them, and that which you, O polytheists, worship besides Him belongs to Him. He says: so worship the King, not the one ruled over who possesses nothing. ( Then to Him you will be brought back ) — He says: then to Allah is your return, and it is He who will punish you for assigning associates to Him, if you die in your polytheism.
And the meaning of the saying is: to Allah belongs intercession wholly, to Him belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth, so worship the Owner to whom belongs the kingship of the heavens and the earth, who is able to bring you benefit in this world and to harm you therein, and at your return to Him after your death, for indeed, to Him you will be brought back.
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: ( Or have they taken intercessors besides Allah? ) — the gods — ( Say: "Even though they possess nothing?" ) — the intercession.
