Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 81

Mufti Taqi Usmani

How can I fear that which you associate with Him, while you do not fear (the evil fate of) your having associated with Allah something for which He did not send down to you any authority? Now, which of the two parties has more right to be in peace? (Tell me) if you know.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And how should I fear your associate-gods, while you have no fear in associating ˹others˺ with Allah—a practice He has never authorized? Which side has more right to security? ˹Tell me˺ if you really know!”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Why should I fear what you associate with Him, when you do not fear that you associate with Allah for which He has not sent down any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to feel secure, if you really know?

A. J. Arberry

How should I fear what you have associated, seeing you fear not that you have associated with God that whereon He has not sent down on you any authority?' Which of the two parties has better title to security, if you have any knowledge?

Abdul Haleem

Why should I fear what you associate with Him? Why do you not fear to associate with Him things for which He has sent you no authority? Tell me, if you know the answer, which side has more right to feel secure?

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And how should I fear that which ye have associated, while ye fear not to have associated with Allah that for which He hath sent down unto you no warranty? Which, then, of the two parties, is more worthy of security, if ye but knew?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with Allah, when ye fear not to give partners to Allah without any warrant having been given to you? Which of (us) two parties hath more right to security? (tell me) if ye know.

Abul Ala Maududi

Why should I fear those whom you have associated (with Allah in His divinity) when you do not fear associating others with Allah in His divinity - something for which He has sent down to you no authority. Then, which of the two parties has better title to security? Tell us, if you have any knowledge!

Ahmed Ali

And why should I fear those you associate with Him when you fear not associating others with God for which He has sent down no sanction? Tell me, whose way is the way of peace, if you have the knowledge?

Ahmed Raza Khan

“And how should I fear whatever you ascribe as partners, whilst you do not fear that you have ascribed partners to Allah – for which He has not sent down on you any proof? So which of the two groups has more right to refuge, if you know?”

Ali Quli Qarai

How could I fear what you ascribe [to Him] as [His] partners, when you do not fear ascribing to Allah partners for which He has not sent down any authority to you? So [tell me,] which of the two sides has a greater right to safety, if you know?

Ali Ünal

"And how should I fear those that you associate with God as partners when you do not fear to associate partners with Him without His having sent down on you any authority (to do so)? (Tell me,) then, which of the two parties has right to feel secure, if you have anything of knowledge?

Amatul Rahman Omar

`How (and why) should I fear (the things) that you associate with Him, while you are not afraid that you have associated those things with Allâh for (the worship of) which He has given you no authority>´ Which of the two parties then (of the monotheists and polytheists) is better entitled to security (and salvation) if you truly know?

English Literal

And how (do) I fear what you shared/made partners (with God), and you (P) (do) not fear that you shared/made partners with God what He did not descend with it on you (from) a proof/evidence ? So which (of) the two groups/parties (is) more worthy with the safety/security if you were knowing?

Faridul Haque

“And how should I fear whatever you ascribe as partners, whilst you do not fear that you have ascribed partners to Allah - for which He has not sent down on you any proof? So which of the two groups has more right to refuge, if you know?”

Hamid S. Aziz

How should I fear that which you associate with Him, when you yourselves fear not to associate with Allah that for which you have no warrant (proof or power to do)? Which then of us two parties is worthier of certainty (of belief), tell me if you know?"

Hilali & Khan

And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority. (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security? If you but know."

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And his people disputed with him. He said: Do you dispute with me respecting Allah and He has guided me indeed? And I fear not in any way those that you set up with Him, unless my Lord please. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge. Will you not then mind?

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And how should I fear what you have set up (with Him), while you do not fear that you have set up with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority; which then of the two parties is surer of security, if you know?

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him, when ye fear not to set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant? Which of the two factions hath more right to safety? (Answer me that) if ye have knowledge.

Muhammad Sarwar

Why should I be afraid of your idols when you are not afraid of worshipping them without any authority from heaven? Would that you knew which of us is more deserving to receive amnesty".

Qaribullah & Darwish

And how should I fear what you have associated when you yourselves are not afraid that you have associated with Allah that which He did not send down for it upon you an authority. Which of the two parties is more deserving of safety, if you know?

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah, while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan. (So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security If you but know."

Wahiduddin Khan

Why should I fear what you associate with Him, while you do not fear to associate with God that for which He has sent down to you no authority? Tell me, if you know the truth, which side has more right to feel secure.

Talal Itani

And why should I fear those you associate with Him, and you do not fear associating others with God for which He sent down to you no authority? Which side is more entitled to security, if you are aware?”

Tafsir jalalayn

How should I fear what you have associated, with God, when it can neither profit nor harm, and you fear not, God [in], that you have associated with God, in worship, that for which He has not revealed to you any warrant?', [any] argument or proof, when He has power over all things. Which of the two parties has more right to security, is it us or you, if you have any knowledge, of who has more right? In other words; it is us, so follow Him. God, exalted be He, says;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ



And how should I fear those whom you associate...,

means, how should I fear the idols that you worship instead of Allah.

وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا

while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan.

According to Ibn Abbas and others among the Salaf,

meaning, proof,

Allah said in similar Ayat;

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُواْ لَهُمْ مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ

Or have they partners who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed! (42;21)

and,

إِنْ هِىَ إِلاَّ أَسْمَأءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَأ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَأوُكُم مَّأ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـنٍ

They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. (53;21)

His statement,

فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالَامْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ



(So) which of the two parties has more right to be in security! If you but know.

means, which of the two parties is on the truth, those who worship Him in Whose Hand is harm and benefit, or those who worship what cannot bring harm or benefit, without authority to justify worshipping them Who among these two parties has more right to be saved from Allah's torment on the Day of Resurrection.

Allah said,

الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَـيِكَ لَهُمُ الَامْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ