Surah 16:21
Show Full Scripture Context (16:19-21) — 3 Verses
وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعۡلِنُونَ
God knows what you keep secret and what you speak aloud.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَخۡلُقُونَ شَيۡـٔٗا وَهُمۡ يُخۡلَقُونَ
Those they call on instead of God do not create anything, since they are (themselves) created.
أَمۡوَٰتٌ غَيۡرُ أَحۡيَآءٖۖ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبۡعَثُونَ
(They are) dead, not alive, and they do not realize when they will be raised up.
"20. Those whom they invoke besides Allah have not created anything, but are themselves created."
"21. (They are) dead, not alive; and they do not know when they will be resurrected."
Allah tells us that He knows what is hidden in people's hearts as well as what is apparent. He will reward or punish everyone for their deeds on the Day of Resurrection. If their deeds are good then they will be rewarded, and if their deeds are evil, then they will be punished.
The gods of the Idolaters are Created, they do not create
Then Allah tells us that the idols which people call on instead of Him cannot create anything, they are themselves created, as Al-Khalil (Ibrahim) said:
{(They are) dead, not alive;} means, they are inanimate and have no souls in them, they cannot hear, see, or think.
{and they do not know when they will be resurrected.} means, they do not know when the Hour will come, so how can anyone hope for any benefit or reward from them? We should hope for this only from the One Who knows all things and is the Creator of all things.