Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 14

Mufti Taqi Usmani

True prayers are to be directed to Him alone; and those to whom they pray instead of Him do not respond to them at all, but they are like one who stretches his hands towards water so that it may reach his mouth (by itself), while it is not to reach it. And the prayer of the disbelievers (that they make to false gods) is nothing but straying in void.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Calling upon Him ˹alone˺ is the truth. But those ˹idols˺ the pagans invoke besides Him ˹can˺ never respond to them in any way. ˹It is˺ just like someone who stretches out their hands to water, ˹asking it˺ to reach their mouths, but it can never do so. The calls of the disbelievers are only in vain.

Ruwwad Translation Center

To Him alone should all supplication be addressed. But those whom they supplicate besides Him do not respond to them in any way, except like one who stretches out his hands for water to reach his mouth, but it will never reach it. The supplication of the disbelievers is all in vain.

A. J. Arberry

To Him is the call of truth; and those upon whom they call, apart from Him, answer them nothing, but it is as a man who stretches out his hands to water that it may reach his mouth, and it reaches it not. The prayer of the unbelievers goes only astray.

Abdul Haleem

The only true prayer is to Him: those they pray to besides Him give them no answer any more than water reaches the mouth of someone who simply stretches out his hands for it- it cannot do so: the prayers of the disbelievers are all in vain.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Unto Him is the true call, and those whom they call upon beside Him answer them not at all, save as is answered one stretching out his palms to water that it may reach his mouth, while it will reach it not. And the supplication of the infidels only goeth astray.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

For Him (alone) is prayer in Truth; any others that they call upon besides Him hear them no more than if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouths but it reaches them not; for the prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile) wandering (in the mind).

Abul Ala Maududi

To Him alone should all prayer be addressed, for those to whom they do address their prayers beside Him are altogether powerless to respond to them. The example of praying to any other than Allah is that of a man who stretches out his hands to water, asking it to reach his mouth, although water has no power to reach his mouth. The prayers of the unbelievers are a sheer waste.

Ahmed Ali

To call on Him is true (supplication). For those they invoke other than Him do not answer them at all, except like a man who stretches his hands towards the water that it reach his mouth, but it will never reach it. Not more than error are the prayers of infidels.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Only the prayer to Him is truthful; and whomever they pray to besides Him, do not hear them at all, but like one who has his hands outstretched towards water that it may come into his mouth, and it will never come; and every prayer of the disbelievers remains wandering.

Ali Quli Qarai

[Only] to Him belongs the true invocation; and those whom they invoke besides Him do not answer them in any wise—like someone who stretches his hands towards water [desiring] that it should reach his mouth, but it does not reach it—and the invocations of the faithless only go awry.

Ali Ünal

To Him alone is made the call of truth and the prayer of truth addressed. Those to whom they invoke and call others (to invoke), apart from Him, cannot answer them in any way – (so that he who invokes them is but) like one who stretches out his hands to water (praying) that it may come to his mouth, but it never comes to it. The prayer of the unbelievers is but destined to go to waste.

Amatul Rahman Omar

He alone deserves being called upon (in prayer). Those they call upon, apart from Him, give them no response whatsoever, but (these polytheists pray to them) like one who stretches forth both of his hands towards the water (wishing) that it may reach his mouth while it never reaches it. And the call of the disbelievers is nought but in vain.

English Literal

For Him (is) the truth`s call/request/prayer, and those who call from (to) other than Him, they do not answer/reply to them from a thing, except as (who) spreads/extends his two palms to the water to reach his mouth, and he is not with reaching it, and the disbeliever`s call/prayer is not except in misguidance.

Faridul Haque

Only the prayer to Him is truthful; and whomever they pray to besides Him, do not hear them at all, but like one who has his hands outstretched towards water that it may come into his mouth, and it will never come; and every prayer of the disbelievers remains wandering.

Hamid S. Aziz

And the thunder hymns His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him; and He sends the thunderclap and smites therewith whom He will while they dispute about Allah; but He is strong and All-mighty.

Hilali & Khan

For Him (Alone) is the Word of Truth (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He). And those whom they (polytheists and disbelievers) invoke, answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand (at the edge of a deep well) for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not, and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but an error (i.e. of no use).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And the thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and smites with them whom He pleases, yet they dispute concerning Allah, and He is Mighty in prowess.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

To Him is due the true prayer; and those whom they pray to besides Allah give them no answer, but (they are) like one who stretches forth his two hands towards water that it may reach his mouth, but it will not reach it; and the prayer of the unbelievers is only in error.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Unto Him is the real prayer. Those unto whom they pray beside Allah respond to them not at all, save as (is the response to) one who stretcheth forth his hands toward water (asking) that it may come unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of disbelievers goeth (far) astray.

Muhammad Sarwar

Prayer to Him is the true prayer. Those to whom they pray instead of God will answer none of their prayers. It is as though one stretches his hands out to the water that can never reach his mouth. The prayers of the unbelievers will get nowhere.

Qaribullah & Darwish

To Him is the Call of truth. Those to whom they call, other than Him, give them no answer. They are like he who stretches out his hands to the water andbids it rise to his mouth, it does not reach it! The prayers of the unbelievers goes astray.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

For Him is the Word of Truth. And those whom they invoke besides Him, answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not; and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but misguidance.

Wahiduddin Khan

The only true appeal is to God alone; those they appeal to instead of Him will never respond to them in any way. They are like a man who stretches forth his hands toward the water, so that it may reach his mouth, but it never does. The calls of those who deny the truth are all in vain.

Talal Itani

To Him belongs the call to truth. Those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with anything—except as someone who stretches his hands towards water, so that it may reach his mouth, but it does not reach it. The prayers of the unbelievers are only in vain.

Tafsir jalalayn

His, exalted be He, is the call of truth, that is, the words that constitute it [the truth], and these are; `there is no god but God' (l ilha ill'Llh); and those upon whom they call (read yad`n or tad`n, `you call'), [those whom] they worship, apart from Him, that is, other than Him -- namely, the idols -- do not answer them anything, of which they ask; save as, is the response to, one who stretches forth his hands towards water, at the edge of a well, calling to it, that it may reach his mouth, by its rising through the well to [reach] him, but it would never reach it, that is, [reach] his mouth, ever; likewise they [the idols] will not answer them; and the call of the disbelievers, their worship of idols -- or their actual supplication -- goes only astray, [it is only] in perdition.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

A Parable for the Weakness of the False Gods of the Polytheists

Ali bin Abi Talib said that Allah's statement,

لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ

For Him is the Word of Truth.

is in reference to Tawhid, according to Ibn Jarir At-Tabari.

Ibn Abbas, Qatadah, and Malik who narrated it from Muhammad bin Al-Munkadir, said that,
لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ
(For Him is the Word of Truth),

means, "La ilaha illallah."

Allah said next,

وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ

And those whom they invoke besides Him...,

meaning, the example of those who worship others besides Allah,

لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَيْءٍ

إِلاَّ كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاء لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ

answer them no more than one who stretches forth his hand for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches him not;

كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاء لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ
(like one who stretches forth his hand for water to reach his mouth), Ali bin Abi Talib commented,

"Like he who stretches his hand on the edge of a deep well to reach the water, even though his hands do not reach it; so how can the water reach his mouth!"

Mujahid said about,
كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ
(like one who stretches forth his hand),

"Calling the water with his words and pointing at it, but it will never come to him this way."

The meaning of this Ayah is that he who stretches his hand to water from far away, to either collect some or draw some from far away, will not benefit from the water which will not reach his mouth, where water should be consumed.

Likewise, those idolators who call another deity besides Allah, will never benefit from these deities in this life or the Hereafter, hence Allah's statement,

وَمَا دُعَاء الْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلَلٍ



and the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but misguidance.