Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 195

Tafsir of Verse 195

Know that this is another type of proof demonstrating the absurdity of an intelligent human engaging in the worship of these idols.

The argument is structured as follows:

1. Allah mentions four limbs: feet, hands, eyes, and ears.
2. It is undeniable that when each of these limbs possesses its appropriate faculty—locomotive power for the feet, grasping power for the hands, sight for the eyes, and hearing for the ears—it is superior to the limb devoid of these powers.
3. A foot capable of walking and a hand capable of striking are superior to a hand and foot devoid of the power of movement and life. A seeing eye and a hearing ear are superior to an eye and ear devoid of sight and hearing, and devoid of life itself.
4. Once this is established, it becomes clear that humankind is vastly superior to these idols. There is no comparison between the virtue of a human and the virtue of these idols.
5. Given this immense disparity, how can it be fitting for the most excellent, perfect, and noble being (man) to engage in the worship of the most base and lowly thing, from which no benefit can ever be derived, neither in bringing benefit nor averting harm?

This is the essence of the proof Allah presents in this verse.

Some ignorant adherents of anthropomorphism have seized upon this verse to affirm these limbs for Allah (Exalted is He). They argue:

• Allah made the absence of these limbs in the idols proof of their lack of divinity.
• Therefore, if Allah did not possess these limbs, their absence would logically prove His lack of divinity, which is false.
• Thus, they conclude, it is obligatory to affirm these limbs for Allah.

The response to this claim comes from two perspectives:

First Perspective: The purpose of this verse is solely to clarify that humankind is in a superior and more perfect state than the idol.

• Man possesses feet that walk, hands that strike, eyes that see, and ears that hear.
• The idol has feet that do not walk, hands that do not strike, eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear.
• Since man is superior and more perfect, his engagement in worshipping the inferior and base is ignorance. This is the intended meaning, not the delusion held by these ignorant people.

Second Perspective: The purpose of mentioning this is to reinforce the argument presented in the preceding verse: {And they cannot help them, nor can they help themselves} (Al-A'raf: 192).

• The question is: How can one worship one who cannot confer benefit or inflict harm?
• Allah then substantiates this by stating that these idols lack walking feet, striking hands, seeing eyes, and hearing ears. When this is the case, they cannot be capable of benefiting or harming, thus precluding them from being gods.
• As for the Lord of the worlds (Allah), although He is exalted above these physical limbs and organs, He is described with perfect power to benefit and harm, and He is described with perfect hearing and sight. Thus, the distinction between the two cases is clear.

Al-Hasan said that the polytheists used to frighten the Prophet (peace be upon him) with their idols. Therefore, Allah commanded: {Call upon those you claim [to be His partners], then plot against me} so that it becomes evident to them that these idols have no power whatsoever to inflict harm upon the Prophet.

Nafi' and Abu 'Amr affirmed the letter Yā' in the word {كيدوني} (kaydūnī - plot against me), while the rest omitted it. This is similar to the variation in {فلا تنظرون} (falā tunẓirūn - and give me no respite).

Al-Wahidi commented that the issue lies in the fact that verse endings resemble rhyme schemes (qawāfī). These Yā' letters are often omitted when they occur at the end of rhyming verses, such as:

He touches the worn-out garment in his dwelling, With his two hands, like the circumcised Jew.

Those who affirm the Yā' do so because its inclusion is the original form. The meaning of {فلا تنظرون} is: "Do not delay me; hasten your plotting, you and your partners."