Tafsir of An-Najm 53:28

"And they have no knowledge thereof."

This is a circumstantial state (hal) of the subject of the verb "they name." The pronoun in "thereof" (bihi) refers to the aforementioned act of naming, and it is in the masculine gender due to this consideration; or, it refers to the object of the saying—meaning, they name them as females while having absolutely no knowledge of what they are saying.

Some read it as biha ("thereof," feminine), referring to the act of naming or to the angels.

"They follow not except assumption."

That is, they follow nothing in that regard except conjecture, which is invalid illusion.

"And indeed, assumption avails nothing against the truth."

The mention of the noun ("assumption") where a pronoun could have been used is to grant the statement the independence of a proverb.

"Avails nothing against the truth" means that the truth, which is an expression for the reality of a thing and what it truly is, is only perceived in a meaningful way when it is based on certainty, not on assumption or illusion. Therefore, assumption is not considered in matters of true knowledge—meaning those doctrinal requirements where certainty is mandatory, even if not derived from evidence. Assumption is only considered in practical matters and what leads to them.

Some have interpreted "the truth" here as Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, based on His saying: "That is because Allah is the Truth."

Those who do not consider taqlid (blind imitation) valid in doctrinal matters have used this verse as evidence. There is a discussion regarding this, as well as regarding the Zahiriyah (literalists) who use it to invalidate analogy (qiyas) entirely. It has been refuted in the most complete manner in the books of jurisprudence (Usul).

Among what Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Ayyub is that Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "Beware of personal opinion (ra'y) regarding the religion. For the opinion of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was correct because Allah, the Exalted, used to show it to him, whereas yours is merely fabrication and assumption. 'And indeed, assumption avails nothing against the truth.'"

This is one of their evidences for the invalidation of analogy. Al-Amidi also narrated something similar in al-Ahkam from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them), who said: "Suspect your personal opinion regarding the religion, for opinion from us is fabrication and assumption. 'And indeed, assumption avails nothing against the truth.'"

The answer to this—at its limit—is that it merely indicates the possibility of error in opinion, but it does not contain anything that proves its complete invalidation. The intent behind His saying, "Indeed, assumption..." is the use of assumption in places that require certainty; it is not intended to invalidate assumption altogether, evidenced by the validity of acting upon the apparent meanings of the Book and the Sunnah. Something similar is said regarding the statement of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). A number of narrations were mentioned which the negator (of analogy) used as evidence for his claim, all of which were refuted. Whoever wishes to examine this should refer back to those sources.