Tafseer of The Forgiver · Ghafir · 40:73
Then it will be said to them, "Where is that which you used to associate [with Him in worship]
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.
And His statement: ( ثُمَّ قِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ ) (then it will be said to them: Where are those whom you used to worship as associates besides Allah?). He says: then it will be said: Where are those whom, through your worship of them, you used to take as associates besides Allah, of your gods and idols, so that they might come to your aid and rescue you from the trial and the punishment in which you find yourselves? For the one who is worshipped comes to the aid of him who worshipped and served him. And this is said to them only by way of punishment and reproach, for what proceeded from them in this world of disbelief in Allah and obedience to the devil. Thereupon the wretched ones answered and said: they have strayed away from us. He says: they have turned away from us and taken a path other than ours and left us in this trial; nay, they have not strayed away from us, but rather we called upon nothing before this in this world: that is to say, we worshipped nothing.
