Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:42

Surah Al-Ankabut (The Spider): Verse 42

Original Text Segment: إن الله يعلم . . . . .

Translation & Exegesis (Based on Al-Razi's style, incorporating points from Al-Zamakhshari):

Al-Zamakhshari's View:

This statement ("Indeed, Allah knows...") serves as an added emphasis to the preceding analogy (the spider's house).

The phrase implies that what they invoke besides Allah is nothing (ما يدعون من شيء). Since Allah is Al-'Aziz (The Mighty) and Al-Hakim (The Wise), how can a rational person abandon the Capable, Wise Creator and busy himself worshipping something that is fundamentally non-existent?

This interpretation suggests that ما (mā) is used as a negative particle (ما نافية). This is valid. The knowledge (يعلم) relates to the entire sentence, similar to saying, "I know that Allah is truly One."

Alternatively, if we treat ما as descriptive (ما خبرية), the meaning becomes: "What they invoke besides Allah, Allah knows it." He is Al-'Aziz, capable of annihilating them immediately, but He is Al-Hakim, granting them respite so that both their disbelief and their eventual destruction occur with clear evidence. This latter interpretation suggests the address is directed towards the Ummah of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Connecting the Analogy to the Verse:

If someone asks, "What is the connection between this verse and the preceding analogy?" we reply:

When Allah said, "The likeness of those who take protectors other than Allah is as the likeness of a spider..." (referring to the analogy), the disbeliever might argue: "I do not worship these idols I have set up; they are merely images of a celestial body (like a star or planet). It is that celestial body that controls my benefit and harm, my good and my evil, my existence and my permanence. Therefore, my prostration and veneration are due to it."

Allah responds: "Allah knows that all that they invoke besides Allah is the likeness of the spider's house."

This means that the celestial body, the angel, or anything other than Allah—none of them can benefit or harm except by the permission of Allah. Therefore, your worship of the unseen entity is equivalent to your worship of something physically present. There is no true object of worship except Allah, and there is no god besides Him.

Verse 43:

Translation:

And these parables, We set them forth for mankind, but none comprehends them except those who possess knowledge (العالمون).