Surah 52

Surah 52:36

"Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No! They are not certain."
Affirming Tawhid and annulling the Plots of the Idolators Verses 52:35-43
Show Full Scripture Context (52:35-43) — 9 Verses
Verse 35

أَمۡ خُلِقُواْ مِنۡ غَيۡرِ شَيۡءٍ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُونَ

Or were they created out of nothing? Or were they the creators?

Verse 36

أَمۡ خَلَقُواْ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ

Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No! They are not certain.

Verse 37

أَمۡ عِندَهُمۡ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡمُصَۜيۡطِرُونَ

Or are the storehouses of your Lord with them, or are they the record-keepers?

Verse 38

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ سُلَّمٞ يَسۡتَمِعُونَ فِيهِۖ فَلۡيَأۡتِ مُسۡتَمِعُهُم بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ مُّبِينٍ

Or do they have a ladder on which they (can) listen? Then let their listener bring clear authority.

Verse 39

أَمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡبَنَٰتُ وَلَكُمُ ٱلۡبَنُونَ

Or does He have daughters while you have sons?

Verse 40

أَمۡ تَسۡـَٔلُهُمۡ أَجۡرٗا فَهُم مِّن مَّغۡرَمٖ مُّثۡقَلُونَ

Or do you ask them for a reward, so that they are burdened with debt?

Verse 41

أَمۡ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبُ فَهُمۡ يَكۡتُبُونَ

Or is the unseen in their keeping, so that they are writing it down?

Verse 42

أَمۡ يُرِيدُونَ كَيۡدٗاۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هُمُ ٱلۡمَكِيدُونَ

Or do they intend a plot? Then those who disbelieve will be the ones plotted against.

Verse 43

أَمۡ لَهُمۡ إِلَٰهٌ غَيۡرُ ٱللَّهِۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

Or do they have a god other than God? Glory to God above what they associate!

This is the position where Tawhid of Allah's Lordship and Divinity are affirmed. Allah the Exalted said, {Or were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators?} Allah asks them, were they created without a maker or did they create themselves? Neither is true. Allah is the One Who created them and brought them into existence after they were nothing. Al-Bukhari recorded that Jubayr bin Mut'im said, "I heard the Prophet recite Surat At-Tur in Al-Maghrib prayer and when he reached this Ayah, {Or were they created by nothing? Or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord? Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?}, I felt my heart would fly away." This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using various chains of narration. Jubayr bin Mut'im went to the Messenger of Allah after the battle of Badr to ransom the captured idolaters. At that time, he was still an idolater. Hearing the Prophet recite this Ayah was one of the reasons that he later embraced Islam. Allah the Exalted said, {Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief.} meaning, Allah is censuring the idolaters for their idolatry, while asking them if they created the heavens and earth. They knew that Allah Alone is the Creator without partners with Him. However, they fell into idolatry because they had no firm belief, {Or are with them the treasures of your Lord? Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?} meanings, do they have the authority to do whatever they will in His kingdom? Do they hold the keys to His treasures in their hands? {or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?} meanings, are they the tyrants who would hold the creation to account? Never, Allah the Exalted and Most Honored is the Only King and Owner of the existence and He does what He wills. Allah the Exalted said, {Or have they a stairway, by means of which they listen.} meaning, do they have a stairway to heaven (to the place where the angels are), {Then let their listener produce some manifest proof.} meaning, let their listener produce evidence to the truth of their actions and statements. They will never be able to do so and therefore, they have nothing and have no evidence for their stance. Allah admonishes them regarding their claim that He has daughters and that the angels are females! The pagans chose for themselves male offspring and preferred them instead of females, and when one of them would be brought the good news of a daughter being born, his face would turn dark on account of his suppressed anger! Yet, they made the angels Allah's daughters and worshipped them besides Allah, {Or has He only daughters and you have sons?} Allah sends a strong warning and stern admonition to them in this Ayah and a sure promise. Allah said, {Or is it that you ask a wage from them} meaning, 'as a remuneration for your preaching Allah's Message to them? Nay, you do not ask them for a wage,' {so that they are burdened with a load of debt?}, meaning, for in this situation, one will complain of the least bothersome thing and feel it difficult and burdensome for him, {Or that the Unseen is with them, and they write it down?} means, they do not have knowledge of the Unseen, for none in the heavens or earth knows the Unseen except Allah, {Or do they intend a plot? But those who disbelieve are themselves plotted against!} Allah the Exalted is asking, 'Do these people who utter such statements about the Messenger and his religion seek to deceive the people and plot against the Messenger and his Companions? If they do, then let them know that their plots will only harm them. Therefore, they are being plotted against rather than being the plotters!' {Or have they a god other than Allah? Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).} This Ayah contains harsh refutation directed at the idolators for worshipping the idols and calling upon rivals along with Allah. Allah next glorifies His Most Honorable Self from what they ascribe to Him, their lies and idolatry, {Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).}

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (296-299)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.