| Fussilat: (40) Say, "Have you considered your partners..."

His saying: {أرأيتم} (Have you considered/seen) means "Inform me," because the interrogative form demands an answer. For instance, one asks, "Have you seen what Zayd did?" and the listener replies, "He sold or bought." If it did not imply "inform me," the answer would only be "no" or "yes."

His saying: {شركاءكم} (your partners). The partners are attributed to them because, in reality, the idols were not partners with God; rather, they made them partners. Thus, He says, "your partners," meaning the partners you have designated.

It is also possible that {شركاءكم} means "your partners in the Fire," based on His saying: {إنكم وما تعبدون من دون الله حصب جهنم} (Indeed, you and what you worship besides Allah are fuel for Hell). This interpretation is plausible, though some commentators consider the first interpretation (partners you designated) more likely.

His saying: {أروني} (Show me) is an alternative to {أرأيتم}, as both convey the meaning of "inform me."

Alternatively, {أرأيتم} could be a genuine inquiry, while {أروني} is a challenging command meant to clarify the matter.

When He says {أرأيتم}, He means: Do you know these beings you call upon as they truly are—incapable—or do you imagine they possess power? If you know them to be incapable, why do you worship them? If you believe they have power, then {أروني} (show me) where their power lies.

Is it in the Earth? As some said, "God is the God of the heavens, and these [idols] are the gods of the Earth," referring to the stars and idols which they believed shaped earthly affairs.

Or is their power in the heavens? As some said, "Heaven was created with the help of angels, and the angels are partners in the creation of the heavens, and these idols are their images."

Or is their power in intercession for you? As some said, "The angels created nothing, but they are close to God, so we worship them so they may intercede for us." If so, do they possess a book from God granting them permission for intercession?

Regarding His saying: {قل أرأيتم شركاءكم} (Say, have you considered your partners), there are two interpretations for the pronoun referring back to the partners:

1. It refers to the partners themselves: "Have We given the partners a book?"
2. It refers to the polytheists: "Have We given the polytheists a book?"

Under the first interpretation, the meaning is as stated: Is there a book from God confirming that these partners have intercession with God? For no one intercedes with Him except by His permission.

Under the second interpretation, the meaning is: The worship of these entities is either based on reason or tradition (transmission). There is no reason for worshipping those who created not even a single part of the Earth nor anything in the heavens. As for tradition, We have not given the polytheists a book commanding us to prostrate to these entities. If We had commanded it, it would be permissible, just as We commanded prostration to Adam or facing the Ka'bah. Since this worship is neither rational nor traditional, their mutual promises are nothing but delusion, a deception by Satan who beautified the worship of idols for them.

! 7 < { Indeed, Allah restrains the heavens and the earth from passing away, and if they were to pass away, no one could restrain them after Him. Indeed, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving. } > 7 !

Then, after establishing that the idols have no power in creation, not even over a single part of existence, He demonstrates God's power by saying: {إن الله يمسك السماوات والارض أن تزولا ولئن زالتا إن أمسكهما من أحد من بعده إنه كان حليما غفورا} (Indeed, Allah restrains the heavens and the earth from passing away, and if they were to pass away, no one could restrain them after Him. Indeed, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving).