Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 165

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Among the people there are some who set up co-gods beside Allah whom they love like the love due to Allah. But those who believe are most firm in their love for Allah. Would that the unjust people could perceive - when they see the torment (i.e. any calamity in this world) - that all power belongs to Allah alone, and that Allah is severe in punishment!

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Still there are some who take others as Allah’s equal—they love them as they should love Allah—but the ˹true˺ believers love Allah even more. If only the wrongdoers could see the ˹horrible˺ punishment ˹awaiting them˺, they would certainly realize that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is indeed severe in punishment.

Ruwwad Translation Center

And among people there are some who take others as equals to Allah: they love them as they should love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah. If only the wrongdoers could see the punishment, they would surely realize that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.

A. J. Arberry

Yet there be men who take to themselves compeers apart from God, loving them as God is loved; but those that believe love God more ardently. O if the evildoers might see, when they see the chastisement, that the power altogether belongs to God, and that God is terrible in chastisement,

Abdul Haleem

Even so, there are some who choose to worship others besides God as rivals to Him, loving them with the love due to God, but the believers have greater love for God. If only the idolaters could see- as they will see when they face the torment- that all power belongs to God, and that God punishes severely.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And of mankind are some that set up compeers; unto Allah they love them as with the love due to Allah. And those who believe are strongest in love of Allah. Would that those who do wrong saw, when they saw the torment, that verily power belonged wholly unto Allah, and that Allah was severe in requital -

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah); They love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty; that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the penalty.

Abul Ala Maududi

(In spite of such clear signs of the Oneness of Allah), there are people who set up equals and rivals with Allah and adore them with the adoration due to Allah. whereas the Believers adore Allah most ardently. Would that these transgressors could realize now what they will realize, when they will see the chastisement before them that power and authority wholly belong to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment!

Ahmed Ali

And yet there are men who take others as compeers of God, and bestow on them love due to God; but the love of the faithful for God is more intense. If only the wicked could see now the agony that they will behold (on the Day of Resurrection), they will know that to God belongs the power entirely'. And the punishment of God is severe.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And some people create for themselves Gods (objects of worship) other than Allah, with devotion (love) equal to the devotion of Allah; and the believers do not love anybody with love equal to the love of Allah; and what will be their state, when the punishment will be before the eyes of the unjust (disbelievers)? For all power belongs wholly to Allah, and because Allah’s punishment is very severe.

Ali Quli Qarai

Among the people are those who set up compeers besides Allah, loving them as if loving Allah—but the faithful have a more ardent love for Allah—though the wrongdoers will see, when they sight the punishment, that power, altogether, belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment.

Ali Ünal

Yet there are among humankind those who (devoid of good sense and unable to reason), take to themselves objects of worship as rivals to God, loving them with a love like that which is the due of God only – while those who truly believe are firmer in their love of God. If only those who do this (greatest) wrong could see – as they will see when they behold the punishment – that the power altogether belongs to God, and that God is severe in punishment.

Amatul Rahman Omar

(Inspite of all these evidences in support of the unity of God) there are some people who take to themselves compeers as opposed to Allâh. They love them as they should love Allâh. But those who believe are stauncher in (their) love for Allâh. And if only those who committed this wrong could but see (the time) when they shall see the punishment, (they would realize) that the complete power only belongs to Allâh and that Allâh is Severe at inflicting the punishment.

English Literal

And from the people who take from other than God equals (idols), they love/like them as God`s love/like and those who believed (are) stronger loving/like to God, and if those who were unjust/oppressive see/understand when they see/understand the torture, that the power/strength is to God all together and that God (is) strong (severe in) the torture.

Faridul Haque

And some people create for themselves Gods (objects of worship) other than Allah, with devotion (love) equal to the devotion of Allah; and the believers do not love anybody with love equal to the love of Allah; and what will be their state, when the punishment will be before the eyes of the unjust (disbelievers)? For all power belongs wholly to Allah, and because Allah’s punishment is very severe.

Hamid S. Aziz

Yet are there some amongst mankind who take to themselves (for worship) peers other than Allah; they love them as they should love Allah. But those who have faith are overflowing with love for Allah. O that those who are unjust could only see, they would see the Penalty (or Consequence) that all power belongs to Allah, and He will strongly enforce the Penalty,

Hilali & Khan

And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Yet there are some men who take for themselves objects of worship besides Allah, whom they love as they should love Allah. And those who believe are stronger in (their) love for Allah. And O that the wrongdoers had seen, when they see the chastisement, that power is wholly Allah´s, and that Allah is severe in chastising!

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And there are some among men who take for themselves objects of worship besides Allah, whom they love as they love Allah, and those who believe are stronger in love for Allah and O, that those who are unjust had seen, when they see the chastisement, that the power is wholly Allah's and that Allah is severe in requiting (evil).

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only) - those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah - Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment!

Muhammad Sarwar

Some people consider certain things equal to God and love them just as one should love God. However, the strongest of the believers' love is their love of God. Had the unjust been able to reflect about their condition, when facing the torment, they would have had no doubt that to God belongs All-power and that He is stern in His retribution.

Qaribullah & Darwish

And among the people are those who take to themselves rivals, other than Allah, loving them as Allah is loved. But those who believe are more loving to Allah. When the harmdoers see when they see the punishment because the power altogether belongs to Allah, and that Allah is firm in punishment,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.

Wahiduddin Khan

Yet there are some who set up equals with God and adore them with the adoration due to God, but those who believe love God most. If only the wrongdoers could see, as they will see when they face the punishment, that all power belongs to God, and that God is severe in punishment.

Talal Itani

Yet among the people are those who take other than God as equals to Him. They love them as the love of God. But those who believe have greater love for God. If only the wrongdoers would realize, when they see the torment; that all power is God’s, and that God is severe in punishment.

Tafsir jalalayn

Yet there be people who take to themselves compeers, idols, besides God, that is, other than God, loving them, by magnifying them and being subservient to them, as God is loved, that is, as their love of Him; but those who believe love God more ardently, than those who love their compeers, because the former never reject God, whereas the latter when faced with hardship soon abandon those [compeers] for God; If he, [if you] O Muhammad (s), were to see those who did evil, by taking to themselves compeers, when (idh here denotes idh) they see (read either as active [yarawna, `they see'] or passive [yurawna, `they are made to see']) the chastisement, you would see a grave sight, that, this is because, the might, the power and the vanquishing, altogether (a circumstantial qualifier) belongs to God, and that God is terrible in chastisement (according to one reading, the person listening [to the verse] governs the verb yar, `he sees', and constitutes the subject [of the clause]; according to another [reading], it is the `evildoers' [who constitute the subject of the clause and govern the verb yar]; and so it [yar] has the sense of ya`lam, `he knows'; the particle an, `that', and what comes after it have taken the place of the objects in both cases; the response to the [initial conditional] law, `if', has been omitted). The general meaning [of the verse] then is; `If they were aware in this world of the severity of God's chastisement and of the fact that power is God's alone, the moment they come to see it with their own eyes, on the Day of Resurrection, they would not take to themselves compeers'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Condition of the Polytheists in this Life and the Hereafter

In these Ayat, Allah mentions the condition of the polytheists in this life and their destination in the Hereafter.

Allah says;

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ أَندَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللّهِ

And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah.

They appointed equals and rivals with Allah, worshipping them along with Allah and loving them, just as they love Allah. However, Allah is the only deity worthy of worship, Who has neither rival nor opponent nor partner.

It is reported in the Sahihayn that Abdullah bin Mas`ud said;

I said, "O Messenger of Allah! What is the greatest sin" He said;

أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك

To appoint a rival to Allah while He Alone has created you.

Allah said;

وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلّهِ

But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else).

Because these believers love Allah, know His greatness, revere Him, believe in His Oneness, then they do not associate anything or anyone with Him in the worship. Rather, they worship Him Alone, depend on Him and they seek help from Him for each and every need.

Then, Allah warns those who commit Shirk,

وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلّهِ جَمِيعاً

If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah.

if these people knew what they will face and the terrible punishment they are to suffer because of their disbelief and Shirk (polytheism), then they would shun the deviation that they live by.

وَأَنَّ اللّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ



and that Allah is severe in punishment.

Allah mentions their false beliefs in their idols, and that those they followed will declare their innocence of them.

Allah said