Tafseer of The Mount · At-Tur · 52:35
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
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 His statement, exalted is He: أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ ("Or were they created out of nothing, or are they themselves the creators?") (52:35)
He, exalted is His mention, says: were these polytheists (mushrikīn) perhaps created out of nothing, that is to say: without fathers and without mothers, so that they are like inanimate matter, not reasoning and not understanding, and not accepting any proof of Allah, drawing no lesson from any admonition and not letting themselves be exhorted by any exhortation? And it has been said: that the meaning of this is: or were they created for nothing, like the statement of someone: I did this and that for nothing, in the meaning of: without purpose.
And His statement أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ ("or are they themselves the creators?"). He says: or are they themselves the creators of this creation, so that for this reason they give no heed to the command of Allah and do not cease from that which He has forbidden them? For to the Creator belongs the commanding and the forbidding.
