ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ ﱗ ﱘ ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e. futility].
Tafsir
Verse range: 13:14
There are two interpretations for this:
First: That the "call" is attributed to "the truth" (al-ḥaqq), which is the opposite of falsehood (al-bāṭil), just as one says "the word of truth." This indicates that the call is inherently linked to the truth and distinct from falsehood. The meaning is that Allah is called upon, and He responds to the call, granting the supplicant their request if it is in their best interest. Thus, it is a call linked to the truth because He is the only One worthy of being supplicated, as His response brings benefit and utility, unlike those who neither benefit nor respond.
Second: That it is attributed to "the Truth" (al-Ḥaqq) as a name for Allah, the Almighty. The meaning is: the call to the One who is the Truth, who hears and responds. Al-Ḥasan said: "The Truth is Allah, and every call to Him is the call of truth."
If you ask: How do these two descriptions connect to what preceded them? I say: Regarding the story of Arbad, it is clear; for his being struck by the thunderbolt was a manifestation of Allah’s power and a trap for him from where he did not perceive. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had prayed against him and his companion, saying: "O Allah, destroy them as You will," and his prayer was answered regarding them; thus, the call was a "call of truth." As for the first interpretation, it is a warning to the disbelievers regarding their disputation with the Messenger, through the arrival of Allah’s power upon them and the answering of the Messenger’s prayer against them.
{Except as one who stretches forth his hands} This means: their response is like the response of water to one who stretches his hands toward it, asking it to reach his mouth. Water is an inanimate object; it does not perceive his outstretched hands, nor his thirst, nor his need, and it is unable to respond to his call or reach his mouth. Likewise, those whom they call upon are inanimate; they do not feel their call, cannot respond to them, and have no power to benefit them.
It is also said: They are likened, in the futility of their calling upon their idols, to one who wants to scoop water with his hands to drink, so he stretches them out with his fingers spread, yet his palms catch nothing, and he fails to achieve his goal of drinking.
(Note: It is recited as "tadʿūn" [you call] with a 'tā', and "kibāsiṭi kaffayhi" [like one who stretches his hands] with tanwīn).
{Except in error} Except in loss that holds no benefit; for if they call upon Allah, He does not answer them [due to their disbelief], and if they call upon their idols, they are unable to answer them.
