Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahqaf Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “Tell me about those whom you invoke instead of Allah, (and) show me what they have created from the earth; Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring to me a book (revealed) before this one, or a trace of knowledge, if you are truthful.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ask ˹them, O  Prophet˺, “Have you considered whatever ˹idols˺ you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created on earth! Or do they have a share in ˹the creation of˺ the heavens? Bring me a scripture ˹revealed˺ before this ˹Quran˺ or a shred of knowledge, if what you say is true.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say, “Tell me about those whom you invoke besides Allah; show me what they have created on the earth, or do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me a scripture revealed before this, or some remnant of knowledge, if you are truthful.”

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Have you considered that you call upon apart from God? Show me what they have created of the earth; or have they a partnership in the heavens? Bring me a Book before this, or some remnant of a knowledge, if you speak truly.'

Abdul Haleem

Say [Prophet], ‘Consider those you pray to other than God: show me which part of the earth they created or which share of the heavens they own; bring me a previous scripture or some vestige of divine knowledge––if what you say is true.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: bethink ye: whatsoever ye call upon beside Allah- show me whatsoever they have created of the earth? Or have they any partnership in the heavens? Bring me a Book before this, Or some trace of knowledges if ye say sooth.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "Do ye see what it is ye invoke besides Allah? Show me what it is they have created on earth, or have they a share in the heavens bring me a book (revealed) before this, or any remnant of knowledge (ye may have), if ye are telling the truth!

Abul Ala Maududi

Tell them, (O Prophet): “Did you consider those whom you call upon beside Allah? Show me, which part of the earth they created? Or do they have any share in creating the heavens? Bring to me any Scripture earlier than this one, or any vestige of knowledge (in support of your belief) if you are truthful.

Ahmed Ali

Say: "Have you thought of those you invoke apart from God? Show me what they have created of the earth, or, do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me an earlier Book than this, or inherited knowledge, if you are truthful."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Proclaim, (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him), “What is your opinion – regarding those whom you worship other than Allah – show me which part of the earth they have created, or do they own any portion of the heavens? Bring to me a Book preceding this (Qur’an), or some remnants of knowledge, if you are truthful.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘Tell me about those you invoke besides Allah. Show me what [part] of the earth have they created. Do they have any share in the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this, or some vestige of [divine] knowledge, if you are truthful.’

Ali Ünal

Say: "Do you not consider what those are whom (you deify and) invoke apart from God? Show me what they have created of the earth. Or do they have a share in (the creation and maintenance of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed) before this one (the Qur’an) or some remnant of knowledge (accurately preserved and transmitted), if you are truthful (in your claims)."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `Do you realize what it is you call on, apart from Allâh? Show me what portion of the earth they have created. Or have they (played) a part in (the planning and creation of) the heavens? Bring me any Book (revealed) before this or some vestige of knowledge (to confirm your practices) if you are truthful (in your claim).´

English Literal

Say: "Did you see what you call from other than God? Show me what they created from the earth/Planet Earth, or for them (is) a partnership in the skies/space? Come/bring to me with a Book from before this, or a mark/historical remain from knowledge, if you were truthful."

Faridul Haque

Proclaim, (O dear Prophet Mohammed - peace and blessings be upon him), “What is your opinion - regarding those whom you worship other than Allah - show me which part of the earth they have created, or do they own any portion of the heavens? Bring to me a Book preceding this (Qur’an), or some remnants of knowledge, if you are truthful.”

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "Have you considered what you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or have they a share in the heavens? Bring me a Book before this or traces of knowledge (confirming this), if you are truthful.

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW to these pagans): "Think! All that you invoke besides Allah show me! What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens? Bring me a Book (revealed before this), or some trace of knowledge (in support of your claims), if you are truthful!"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

We created not the heavens and the earth and all between them save with truth and for an appointed term. And those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: Have you considered what you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth, or have they a share in the heavens? Bring me a book before this or traces of knowledge, if you are truthful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Have ye thought on all that ye invoke beside Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth. Or have they any portion in the heavens? Bring me a scripture before this (Scripture), or some vestige of knowledge (in support of what ye say), if ye are truthful.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), ask them, "Have you thought about what you worship besides God? Show me which part of the earth they have created. Do they have a share in the creation of the heavens? Bring me a Book, revealed before this Quran, or any other proof based on knowledge to support your belief, if indeed you are truthful".

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Have you seen those whom you call upon, other than Allah? Show me what they have created from the earth! Or, do they have a partnership in theheavens? Bring me a Book before this or some other remnant of knowledge, if what you say is true'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what have they created of the earth Or have they a share in (the creation of) the heavens Bring me a scripture prior to this or some trace of knowledge, if you are truthful!"

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "Have you thought about those you call upon apart from God? Show me what they have created on the earth. Or do they have a share in the heavens? Bring me a Book revealed before this or some other vestige of knowledge, if you are telling the truth.

Talal Itani

Say, “Have you considered those you worship instead of God? Show me which portion of the earth they have created. Or do they own a share of the heavens? Bring me a scripture prior to this one, or some trace of knowledge, if you are truthful.”

Tafsir jalalayn

Say; `Have you considered, [say] Inform me [about], what you invoke, [what] you worship, besides God?, namely, the idols (min dni'Llhi, constitutes the first object [of the verb]). Show me -- inform me -- (arn, [repeated] for emphasis), what they have created (mdh khalaq, the second object) of the earth (mina'l- ardi, the explication of m, `what [part]'). Or do they have any share, any partnership, in, the creation of, the heavens?, with God? (am, `or', has the significance of the [rhetorical interrogative] hamza of denial). Bring me a scripture, [that has been] revealed, before this, Qur'n, or some vestige, some remnant, of knowledge, transmitted from the ancients confirming the soundness of your claim that your worship of the idols brings you closer to God, if you are truthful', in your claim.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قُلْ

Say,

meaning, to these idolators who worship others besides Allah.

أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الاَْرْضِ

Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what they have created of the earth?

meaning, `show me the place that they have independently created from the earth.'

أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ

Or have they a share in the heavens?

which means that they are not partners in anything in the heavens, nor on earth. They do not own even the thin membrane covering a date's pit. The dominion and control only belong to Allah, Exalted is He. `How then would you worship others or join them as partners with Him? Who guided you to that? Who called you to that? Did He command you to do it, or is it something that you suggested yourselves?'

Thus, He says,

اِيْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَذَا

Bring me a scripture prior to this?

meaning, `bring a book from among the Books of Allah that have been revealed to the Prophets, that commands you to worship these idols.'

أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ

or some trace of knowledge,

meaning, `some clear evidence justifying this way you have chosen.'

إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ



if you are truthful!

meaning, `you have absolutely no evidence for that -- neither textual (from revelation) nor rational.'

For this reason, some recited it;

أَوْ أَثَرَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ
"or something inherited from knowledge."

meaning, `or true knowledge that you have inherited from anyone before you.'

This is similar to Mujahid's statement when he said,
أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ
(or some trace of knowledge).

"Or anyone who has inherited any knowledge."

Allah then says,

وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لاَّ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَومِ الْقِيَامَةِ

وَهُمْ عَن دُعَايِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ