Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 16

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “Allah.” Say, “Have you, then, taken as protectors those besides Him who possess no power to cause benefit or harm even to themselves?” Say, “Is it that a blind person and a sighted one are equal, or that all sorts of the darkness and the light are alike?” Or, have they ascribed such partners with Allah who (according to their belief) have created (some of the creation) as He has created, and thus the creation seemed to them alike? Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the All-Dominant.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “Allah!” Ask ˹them˺, “Why ˹then˺ have you taken besides Him lords who cannot even benefit or protect themselves?” Say, “Can the blind and the sighted be equal? Or can darkness and light be equal?”[[ Blindness and darkness are commonly used as an analogy for disbelief, whereas the ability to see and light refer to true faith in Allah.]] Or have they associated with Allah partners who ˹supposedly˺ produced a creation like His, leaving them confused between the two creations? Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and earth?” Say, “Allah.” Say, “Have you taken besides Him protectors, those who have no power to benefit or harm themselves?” Say, “Can the blind person be equal to the seeing, or can the darkness be equal to the light?” Or do they ascribe to Allah partners who created the like of His creation, so they are confused between two creations? Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Subjugator.”

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Who is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth?' Say: 'God.' Say: 'Then have you taken unto you others beside Him to be your protectors, even such as have no power to profit or hurt themselves?' Say: 'Are the blind and the seeing man equal, or are the shadows and the light equal? Or have they ascribed to God associates who created as He created, so that creation is all alike to them?' Say: 'God is the Creator of everything, and He is the One, the Omnipotent.'

Abdul Haleem

Say [Prophet], ‘Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth?’ Say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Why do you take protectors other than Him, who can neither benefit nor harm even themselves?’ Say, ‘Are the blind equal to those who can see? And are the depths of darkness equal to the light?’ Have the partners they assign to God created anything like His creation so that their creation is indistinguishable from His? Say, ‘God is the Creator of all things: He is the One, the All Compelling.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: who in the Lord of the heavens and the earth Say thou: Allah. Say thou: have ye then taken beside Him patrons who own not to themselves benefit nor hurt! Say thou: are the blind and the seer equal? Or, the darknesses and light equal? Or have they set up associates unto Allah, who have created even as He hath created, so that the Creation hath become dubious unto them! Say thou: Allah is the Creator of everything; and He is the One, the Subduer.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?" Say; "(It is) Allah." Say; "Do ye then take (for worship) protectors other than Him, such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?" Say; "Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with light?" Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created (anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say; "Allah is the Creator of all things; He is the One, the Supreme and Irresistible."

Abul Ala Maududi

Ask them: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "Allah." Tell them: "Have you taken beside Him as your patrons those who do not have the power to benefit or to hurt even themselves?" Say: "Can the blind and the seeing be deemed equals? Or can light and darkness be deemed equals?" If that is not so, then have those whom they associate with Allah in His Divinity ever created anything like what Allah did so that the question of creation has become dubious to them? Say: "Allah is the creator of everything. He is the One, the Irresistible."

Ahmed Ali

Ask them: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" (They will) say: "God." Say: "Then why do you take protectors besides Him who have no power over their own gain or loss?" Say: "Can a blind man and one who can see be equal? Or, darkness and light be the same? Or, have those they have appointed equal of God created, as He has created, so that the (two) creations look alike to them?" Say: "God is the creator of everything. He is One, the omnipotent."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Proclaim, “Allah”; Say, “So have you appointed such as supporters besides Him, who can neither benefit nor harm themselves?”; say, “Will the blind and the sighted ever be equal? Or will the realms of darkness and the light ever be equal?” Have they appointed such as partners to Allah who created something like Allah did? Therefore their creation and His creation seemed alike to them? Proclaim, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He Alone is the Dominant over all.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?’ Say, ‘Allah!’ Say, ‘Have you then taken others besides Him for guardians, who have no control over their own benefit or harm?’ Say, ‘Are the blind one and the seer equal? Are darkness and light equal?’ Have they set up for Allah partners who have created like His creation, so that the creations seemed confusable to them? Say, ‘Allah is the creator of all things, and He is the One and the All-paramount.’

Ali Ünal

Say: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "God." Say (also): "Do you then take for guardians, apart from Him, , such as have no power to bring benefit to, or avert harm from, even themselves?" Say: "Are the blind and the seeing equal or are the depths of darkness and the light equal?" Or have they assigned to God partners who create the like of His creation so that the creation (that they make and God’s creation) seem alike to them (so that they cannot distinguish the true Creator?)" Say: "God is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the All-Overwhelming."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Ask (them), `Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?´ (They will not be able to answer it, therefore) say, `It is Allâh.´ Say (again), `Have you, even then, taken, apart from Him (such other) helpers as have no power to receive good or avoid harm even for themselves?.´ Say, `Is the blind person as good as the person who can see? Or are the different kinds of darkness the same as the light? Or have they ascribed to Allâh associate partners who have created the things as He has created, with the result that the two creations look similar to them?´ Say, `Allâh (alone) is the Creator of all things and He is the One, the Most Supreme.´

English Literal

Say: "who (is) the skies`/space`s and the earth`s/Planet Earth`s Lord?" Say: "God." Say: "So did you take/receive from other than Him guardians/allies they do not own/possess to themselves benefit/usefulness and nor harm?" Say: "Do the blind and the seeing become equal/alike? Or do the darknesses and the light become equal/alike? Or they made/put to God partners (that) created like/as His creation so the creation looked alike/resembled on (to) them?" Say: "God (is) creator (of) every thing, and He is the one, the defeater/conqueror ."

Faridul Haque

Say (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Proclaim, "Allah"; Say, "So have you appointed such as supporters besides Him, who can neither benefit nor harm themselves?"; say, "Will the blind and the sighted ever be equal? Or will the realms of darkness and the light ever be equal?" Have they appointed such as partners to Allah who created something like Allah did? Therefore their creation and His creation seemed alike to them? Proclaim, "Allah is the Creator of all things, and He Alone is the Dominant over all."

Hamid S. Aziz

And unto Allah do prostrate whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening.

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "(It is) Allah." Say: "Have you then taken (for worship) Auliya' (protectors, etc.) other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm to themselves?" Say: "Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light? Or do they assign to Allah partners who created the like of His creation, so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them." Say: "Allah is the Creator of all things, He is the One, the Irresistible."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And whoever is in the heavens and the earth makes obeisance to Allah only, willingly and unwillingly, and their shadows, too, at morn and eve.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?-- Say: Allah. Say: Do you take then besides Him guardians who do not control any profit or harm for themselves? Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or can the darkness and the light be equal? Or have they set up with Allah associates who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say (O Muhammad): Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. Say: Take ye then (others) beside Him for protectors, which, even for themselves, have neither benefit nor hurt? Say: Is the blind man equal to the seer, or is darkness equal to light? Or assign they unto Allah partners who created the like of His creation so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Almighty.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), ask them, "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say, "It is God." Ask them, "Why then have you taken guardians other than God when such guardians can neither benefit nor harm themselves?" Ask them, "Are the seeing and the blind equal? Is light equal to darkness?" Do they consider that their idols have created anything like that of God, thus, both creations appear to them to be alike?" Say, "God alone is the Creator of all things and He is the One, the All-Dominant."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth' Say: 'Allah' Say: 'Why then have you chosen guardians other than Him, even though they have neither the power to benefit nor harm themselves' Say: 'Are the blind and the seeing equal? Are darkness and light equal? Or, have they ascribed to Allah associates who create as He creates so that all creation is alike to them?" Say: 'Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One, the Conqueror'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth" Say: "(It is) Allah." Say: "Have you then taken (for worship) Awliya' (protectors) other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm to themselves" Say: "Is the blind equal to the one who sees Or darkness equal to light Or do they assign to Allah partners who created the like of His creation, so that the creation seemed alike to them" Say: "Allah is the Creator of all things; and He is the One, the Irresistible."

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say, "God." Say, "Why do you take protectors other than Him, who can neither benefit nor harm even themselves?" Say, "Are the blind and the seeing equal? Is darkness equal to the light? Or have they assigned partners to God who create as He creates, so that both creations appear to them alike?" Say, "God is the Creator of all things. He is the One, the Almighty."

Talal Itani

Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “God.” Say, “Have you taken besides Him protectors, who have no power to profit or harm even themselves?” Say, “Are the blind and the seeing equal? Or are darkness and light equal? Or have they assigned to God associates, who created the likes of His creation, so that the creations seemed to them alike? Say, “God is the Creator of all things, and He is The One, the Irresistible.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Say, O Muhammad (s), to your people; `Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?' Say; `God' -- and even if they do not say it, there can be no other response. Say, to them; `Then have you taken beside Him, other than Him, protectors, idols, to worship, who have no power to benefit or harm themselves?', and you abandon the One Who is their Possessor? (an interrogative meant as a rebuke). Say; `Are the blind one and the seer, [respectively], the disbeliever and the believer, equal? Or are darkness, disbelief, and the light, faith, equal? No! Or have they set up for God associates who have created the like of His creation, so that creation seems alike, that is, [is] what the associates create and the creation of God [alike], to them?', so that they believe them worthy of being worshipped on account of what these [associates] have created? (an interrogative of disavowal); in other words, not so! None save the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Say; `God is the Creator of all things, having no associate therein, and so He cannot have an associate in terms of worship; and He is the One, the Subjugator', of His servants.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Affirming Tawhid

Allah says;

قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ

قُلِ اللّهُ

قُلْ أَفَاتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاء لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لاَِنفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا

Say;"Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth!"

Say;"(It is) Allah."

Say;"Have you then taken (for worship) Awliya' (protectors) other than Him, such as have no power either for benefit or for harm to themselves!"

Allah affirms here that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, since they admit that He alone created the heavens and the earth and that He is their Lord and the Disposer of all affairs. Yet, they take as lords others besides Allah and worship them, even though these false gods do not have the power to benefit or harm themselves, or those who worship them.

Therefore, the polytheists will not benefit or have harm removed from them by these false deities.

Are those who worship the false deities instead of Allah equal to those who worship Him alone, without partners, and thus have a light from their Lord.

This is why Allah said here,

قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَاعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ

أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَاتُ وَالنُّورُ

أَمْ جَعَلُواْ لِلّهِ شُرَكَاء خَلَقُواْ كَخَلْقِهِ فَتَشَابَهَ الْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ

Say;

"Is the blind equal to the one who sees!

Or darkness equal to light!

Or do they assign to Allah partners who created the like of His creation, so that the creations seemed alike to them!"

Allah asks, `Do these polytheists worship gods besides Him that rival Him in what He created!

Have their false deities created similar creations to those Allah created and, thus, they are confused between the two types of creations, not knowing which was created by others besides Allah!'

Rather, the Ayah proves that the truth is nothing like this. There is none similar to Allah, nor does He have an equal, a rival, anyone like Him, a minister, a son, or a wife. Allah is glorified in that He is far away from all that is ascribed to Him.

These idolators worship gods that they themselves admit were created by Allah and are subservient to Him. They used to say during their Talbiyah;"Here we rush to Your obedience. There is no partner for You, except Your partner, You own him and he owns not."

Allah also mentioned their polytheistic statements in other Ayat,

مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَأ إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفَى

We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allah. (39;3)

Allah admonished them for this false creed, stating that only those whom He chooses are allowed to intercede with Him,

وَلَا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَـعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ

Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits. (34;23)

وَكَمْ مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ

And there are many angels in the heavens.....(53;26)

and,

إِن كُلُّ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ اتِى الرَّحْمَـنِ عَبْداً

لَّقَدْ أَحْصَـهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدّاً

وَكُلُّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَرْداً

There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allah) as a servant. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection. (19;93-95)

If all are Allah's servants, then why do any of them worships each other without proof or evidence that allows them to do so Rather, they rely on sheer opinion and innovation in the religion, even though Allah has sent all of His Prophets and Messengers, from beginning to end, prohibiting this practice (polytheism) and ordering them to refrain from worshipping others besides Allah. They defied their Messengers and rebelled against them, and this is why the word of punishment struck them as a worthy recompense,

وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا

And your Lord treats no one with injustice. (18;49)

Allah's statement,

قُلِ اللّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ



Say;"Allah is the Creator of all things; and He is the One, the Irresistible.