ﱁ ﱂ ﱃ ﱄ ﱅ ﱆ ﱇ ﱈ ﱉ ﱊ ﱋ ﱌ ﱍ ﱎ ﱏ ﱐ ﱑ ﱒ ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ
But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection.
Tafsir
Verse range: 25:3
"Creation" (khalq) here means fabrication (ifti‘al), as in the Almighty’s saying: "You only worship idols besides Allah, and you fabricate a lie" (Al-‘Ankabut: 17).
The meaning is: They preferred the worship of gods—whose incapacity is more evident than any other—over the worship of Allah (Glorified be He). These gods are incapable of any of Allah’s actions, nor are they capable of the actions of His servants. They cannot create anything, whereas they themselves are created, for their worshippers fashion them through carving and sculpting.
"And they possess no power" means: They cannot ward off harm from themselves, nor can they bring benefit to themselves, whereas their worshippers can do so.
If they are incapable of creation, warding off harm, and bringing benefit—things which ordinary servants are capable of—then they are even more incapable regarding death, life, and resurrection, which none can perform except Allah.
