Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verse 28

After establishing the evidence for His Oneness (Tawhid) through two proofs, the verse now presents a parable (mathal) to further clarify this Oneness.

The meaning is: Consider a master who has a slave. This slave does not share in the master's wealth, nor does he possess the same honor or status as his master. How, then, can it be permissible for the servants of God (i.e., idols or other deities) to be partners with Him? And how can they possess a greatness equal to God's greatness such that they should be worshipped?

In this verse, there are several important issues:

It is necessary that there be some similarity between the parable (the example given) and the thing being exemplified (the reality being illustrated). If there is also a difference, this difference may either reinforce the meaning of the parable or weaken it.

Here, the similarity is clear (comparing human ownership to divine ownership). The difference, however, is also present and serves to reinforce the point in several ways:

1. "From yourselves" (من أنفسكم): God sets forth a parable from your own selves, despite your inherent insignificance, deficiency, and inability. He then compares Himself to you, despite His Immense Greatness, Perfection, and Power.
2. "Of what your right hands possess" (مما ملكت أيمانكم): Your slave is under your ownership, which is transferable (through sale, etc.) and perishable (through manumission/freedom). However, God's creation has no means of exiting His ownership whatsoever. If it is not permissible for your slave—who can potentially become equal to you in all respects (as he is human)—to be your partner, even while he is currently your subordinate, how much less permissible is it for a partner to exist with God, when that entity is His property in every conceivable way? Furthermore, your slave shares your humanity, and you have no power over his soul or his essential humanity (you cannot kill him to stop him from worshipping, nor can you prevent him from fulfilling his needs). If this is the case, how can a partner be ascribed to God, when that partner is His property in every dimension?
3. "In what We have provided for you" (فيما رزقناكم): What you possess is, in reality, not truly yours; it is from God and His provision. Therefore, what is truly God's cannot have a partner in reality. If you cannot have a partner in what is nominally yours, how can God have a partner in what is truly His?
   • The phrase "then you are equal therein" (فأنتم فيه سواء) means: Are you and your slaves equal in anything you own? No. Therefore, God has no partner in anything He owns.
   • However, everything belongs to God. Thus, those you claim are gods possess nothing—not even the weight of a mustard seed. They are not worshipped for their greatness, nor for any benefit they can confer upon you.
   • As for your claim that these are your intercessors (شفعاؤنا): Do slaves possess the same sanctity or honor in your eyes as free men? If those who are equal to you in reality and attributes (your slaves) do not possess the same honor, how much more so for slaves who have no equality with the master in any aspect? This is alluded to by the verse: "Do you fear them as you fear yourselves?" (Ar-Rum: 28).

Through this parable, all grounds for the validity of worshipping others are negated. If these supposed deities are unfit to be partners, then they possess neither true ownership nor dominion.

• They have no greatness to be worshipped for.
• They cannot be sought after for benefit because they lack ownership.
• They have no power or ability, as they are slaves (created beings). A slave cannot accomplish anything.

Therefore, you should not fear them as you fear yourselves. How then can you fear them with a fear greater than your fear of each other, leading you to worship them out of fear?

This means: We clarify these matters with decisive proofs, rational arguments, persuasive parables, and analogies for people who possess intellect. The matter should not remain hidden except from one who lacks reason.

Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verse 29

Then the Almighty says: "Nay, those who do wrong follow their own lusts without knowledge..."

This indicates that the wrongdoers follow their desires blindly, without any supporting evidence or knowledge. "So, who can guide him whom Allah has sent astray? And there will be for them no helpers."