Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:4

Which was revealed in Makkah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Qur'an is a Revelation from Allah and the Universe is His True Creation

Allah informs that He has revealed the Book to His servant and Messenger Muhammad -- may Allah's blessings be upon him until the Day of Judgement. Allah then describes Himself as being of unimaginable glory, possessing ultimate wisdom in His statements and actions. Allah then says,

(We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except in truth,) meaning, not in idle play and falsehood.

(and for a specified term.) meaning, for a fixed and specified duration that will not increase or decrease. Allah continues,

(But those who disbelieve, turn away from that of which they are warned.) Meaning, the disbelievers are distracted from what is intended for them. Allah has indeed revealed to them a Book and sent to them a Messenger. Yet, they obstinately turn away from all of that. Therefore, they will soon realize the consequence of their behavior.

Refuting the Idolators

Allah then says,

(Say) meaning, to these idolators who worship others besides Allah.

(Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what they have created of the earth) (46:4) meaning, `show me the place that they have independently created from the earth.'

(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,

(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.'

(or some trace of knowledge,) meaning, `some clear evidence justifying this way you have chosen.'

(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,

(or some trace of knowledge.) "Or anyone who has inherited any knowledge." Allah then says,

(And who is more astray than those who invokes besides Allah others who will not answer them until the Day of Resurrection, and who are unaware of their invocations to them) meaning, no one is more misguided than those who invoke idols instead of Allah, asking them for things that they cannot give -- until the Day of Judgment. They (the idols) are unaware of what he asks, they can neither hear, see, or act. This is because they are inanimate, senseless stones. Allah then says,

(And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worship.) This is similar to Allah's saying:

(They have taken gods beside Allah, that they might give them dignity. No! They will deny their worship of them, and will be opponents to them.) (19:81, 82) meaning, they will betray them when they need them the most. (Ibrahim) Al-Khalil, peace be upon him, said:

(You have taken only idols besides Allah! The love between you is only in the life of this world. On the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and you shall have no helpers.)(29:25)

Setelah menegaskan bahwa Dialah yang berhak disembah, Dialah Tuhan yang Maha Pengasih, Maha Penyayang lagi Mahaadil, dan setelah menegaskan tentang adanya hari pembalasan, Allah menunjukkan kesalahan akidah orang-orang musyrik yang menyembah sembahan selain Allah. Dia memerintahkan kepada Nabi Muhammad agar mengatakan kepada orang-orang yang menyembah sembahan selain Allah sebagai berikut, "Hai orang-orang musyrik, terangkanlah kepadaku tentang berhala-berhala yang kamu sembah, setelah kamu memperhatikan kejadian langit dan bumi serta yang ada di dalamnya, setelah memperhatikan hukum-hukum yang berlaku pada benda-benda angkasa, alam semesta sejak dari yang sekecil-kecilnya sampai kepada yang paling besar, sejak dari yang tampak sampai kepada yang tidak tampak, sejak dari yang halus sampai kepada yang kasar, juga setelah kamu memperhatikan kejadian hewan, tumbuh-tumbuhan, sampai kepada kejadian diri kamu sendiri, yang semuanya itu diciptakan dengan rapi, indah, berfaedah dan penuh hikmah. Apakah ada di bumi ini benda yang telah diciptakan oleh berhala sehingga ia layak dan berhak disembah? Atau apakah ia telah menciptakan sesuatu yang ada di langit bersama-sama dengan Allah?"

Dari ayat ini dapat dipahami bahwa orang-orang musyrik tidak sanggup membuktikan dengan dalil-dalil yang masuk akal bahwa berhala itu berhak disembah di samping Allah karena mereka tidak dapat menunjukkan walaupun hanya satu benda kecil di antara benda-benda yang ada di bumi ini sebagai ciptaan berhala itu. Bahkan yang terbukti ialah berhala itu sendiri adalah hasil buatan mereka sendiri.

Akhir ayat ini menegaskan bahwa di dalam kitab-kitab suci yang pernah diturunkan Allah kepada para rasul-Nya tidak terdapat satu keterangan pun yang menerangkan bahwa berhala itu harus disembah di samping Allah. Begitu juga dalam ilmu yang diwariskan oleh orang-orang dahulu pun tidak terdapat keterangan yang dijadikan dasar bagi penyembahan terhadap berhala. Hal ini diperintahkan Allah untuk disampaikan kepada orang-orang musyrik, "Hai kaum musyrik, seandainya kepercayaan menyembah berhala itu benar, cobalah kemukakan satu ayat saja dari ayat-ayat yang terdapat dalam kitab-kitab suci yang diturunkan sebelum Al-Qur'an yang membenarkan kepercayaanmu itu, atau pengetahuan-pengetahuan orang-orang terdahulu yang ada pada kamu yang membenarkan kepercayaan syirik itu."