Tafsir of Al-Mulk 67:21

Surah Al-Mulk (67): Verse 21

(21) Am man hādhā...

As for the second point, it is His saying: {Or is there any who can provide for you if He withholds His provision?} (67:21).

The meaning is: Which of your gods can provide for you if Allah withholds sustenance from you? This, too, is something no rational person would deny. If Allah were to withhold the means of provision—such as rain, vegetation, and so forth—no provider other than Him would be found.

When this matter became clear, the Almighty said: {Nay, but they persist in insolence and aversion} (67:22).

This means they insisted and became obstinate despite the clarity of the truth.

• 'Utuww (insolence/rebellion): Refers to their defiance and arrogance.
• Nufūr (aversion/repulsion): Refers to their turning away from the truth and showing disdain for it.

The 'utuww stems from their greed for worldly things, which points to the corruption of the practical faculty (al-Quwwah al-'Amaliyyah). The nufūr stems from their ignorance, which points to the corruption of the speculative faculty (al-Quwwah al-Naẓariyyah).

Know that when the Almighty described them with 'utuww and nufūr, He drew attention to what indicates the ugliness of these two characteristics by saying:

{Is he who walks headlong, with his face thrust down, better guided, or he who walks upright on a straight path?} (67:22).