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Towards Understanding the Quran
With kind permission: Islamic Foundation UK
Introduction to Tafheem | Glossary | Verbs
Tafsirs: Maarif | Dawat | Ishraq | Clear

 Surah Al-Isra 17:41-44 [5/12]
  
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Verse Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
وَلَقَدْAnd verily,
صَرَّفْنَاWe have explained
فِىin
هَـٰذَاthis
ٱلْقُرْءَانِthe Quran,
لِيَذَّكَّرُواْthat they may take heed,
وَمَاbut not
يَزِيدُهُمْit increases them
إِلَّاexcept
نُفُورًا(in) aversion.
﴿٤١﴾
قُلSay,
لَّوْ"If
كَانَ(there) were
مَعَهُۥٓwith Him
ءَالِهَةٌgods
كَمَاas
يَقُولُونَthey say,
إِذًاthen
لَّٱبْتَغَوْاْsurely they (would) have sought
إِلَىٰto
ذِى(the) Owner
ٱلْعَرْشِ(of) the Throne
سَبِيلاًa way."
﴿٤٢﴾
سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥGlorified is He
وَتَعَـٰلَىٰand Exalted is He
عَمَّاabove what
يَقُولُونَthey say
عُلُوًّا(by) height
كَبِيرًاgreat.
﴿٤٣﴾
تُسَبِّحُGlorify
لَهُ[to] Him
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ ٱلسَّبْعُthe seven heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضُand the earth
وَمَنand whatever
فِيهِنَّ‌ۚ(is) in them.
وَإِنAnd (there is) not
مِّنany
شَىْءٍthing
إِلَّاexcept
يُسَبِّحُglorifies
بِحَمْدِهِۦHis Praise,
وَلَـٰكِنbut
لَّاnot
تَفْقَهُونَyou understand
تَسْبِيحَهُمْ‌ۗtheir glorification.
إِنَّهُۥIndeed, He
كَانَis
حَلِيمًاEver-Forbearing,
غَفُورًاOft-Forgiving."
﴿٤٤﴾


وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا فِىۡ هٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنِ لِيَذَّكَّرُوۡا ؕ وَمَا يَزِيۡدُهُمۡ اِلَّا نُفُوۡرًا‏  قُلْ لَّوۡ كَانَ مَعَهٗۤ اٰلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اِذًا لَّابۡتَغَوۡا اِلٰى ذِى الۡعَرۡشِ سَبِيۡلًا‏  سُبۡحٰنَهٗ وَتَعٰلٰى عَمَّا يَقُوۡلُوۡنَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيۡرًا‏  تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوٰتُ السَّبۡعُ وَالۡاَرۡضُ وَمَنۡ فِيۡهِنَّ​ؕ وَاِنۡ مِّنۡ شَىۡءٍ اِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِهٖ وَلٰـكِنۡ لَّا تَفۡقَهُوۡنَ تَسۡبِيۡحَهُمۡ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ حَلِيۡمًا غَفُوۡرًا‏ 

Translation
(17:41) We have expounded (the Truth) in diverse ways in this Qur'an that they might take it to heart but all this only aggravates their aversion. (17:42) Say, (O Muhammad): "Had there been other gods with Him, as they claim, they would surely have attempted to find a way to the Lord of the Throne.47 (17:43) Holy is He and far above all that they say. (17:44) The seven heavens, the earth, and all that is within them48 give glory to Him. There is nothing but gives glory to Him with His praise,49 though you do not understand their hymns of praise. He is Most Forbearing, Exceedingly Forgiving."50

Commentary

47. That is, they would have themselves tried their best to become masters of the Throne. This is because if there had been more than one partners in Godhead, it would produce one of the two results: (1) If they were all independent gods, it was not conceivable that they would agree and cooperate with one another in the management of the boundless universe and there could never have been unanimity, uniformity and balanced proportion in its functioning. There would have been conflict at every step and everyone would have tried to dominate others in order to become its sole master. or (2) if one of them had been the supreme god and the others his obedient servants whom he had delegated some of his powers, then, according to the maxim “power corrupts”, they would never have been content with remaining obedient servants of the supreme god and would have conspired to become the supreme god themselves.

Whereas the fact is that in this universe not even a grain of wheat or a blade of grass can grow unless and until everything in the earth and the heavens cooperate with one another for its production. Therefore, only an utterly ignorant and block headed person can conceive that there are more than one independent or semi independent rulers, who carry on the management of this universe. Anyone who has tried to understand the nature and functioning of the universe will most surely arrive at the conclusion that there is One and only One Sovereign ruling over this universe, and there is absolutely no likelihood of anyone else to be a partner in this at any stage.

48. That is, the entire universe and everything in it bear witness to the fact that their Creator and Guardian is free from each and every fault, defect and weakness, and that He is far above this that there should be any partner or associate in His Godhead.

49. Everything is not only singing hymns of the glory of its Creator but is affording the proof that He is perfect in every respect and worthy of all praise. Everything is an embodiment of the proof that its Creator and Administrator is the one in whom there is perfection of every quality. Therefore, He alone is worthy of praise.

50. That is, it is due to His forbearance and forgiveness that though you are persistently insolent to Him and go on inventing one false thing or the other against Him, He forbears and forgives you. He neither withholds provisions from you nor deprives you of His favors nor strikes an insolent person instantly dead with a thunderbolt. Above all, He is so forbearing and forgiving that He gives long enough respite to the individuals and communities to mend their ways, sends His prophets and reformers for their admonition and guidance and forgives all the past mistakes and errors, if one sincerely repents and adopts the right way.