Surah 6

Surah 6:19

"Say: ‘What thing (is) greater as a witness?’ Say: ‘God is witness between me and you, and I have been inspired (with) this Qur’ān so that I may warn you by means of it, and whomever it reaches. Do you indeed bear witness that (there are) other gods with God?’ Say: ‘I do not bear witness.’ Say: ‘He is only one God. Surely I am free of what you associate.’"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 6:17-21
Show Full Scripture Context (6:17-21) — 5 Verses
Verse 17

وَإِن يَمۡسَسۡكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرّٖ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَۖ وَإِن يَمۡسَسۡكَ بِخَيۡرٖ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

If God touches you with any harm, (there is) no one to remove it but Him, and if He touches you with any good – He is powerful over everything.

Verse 18

وَهُوَ ٱلۡقَاهِرُ فَوۡقَ عِبَادِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ

He is the Supreme One above His servants. He is the Wise, the Aware.

Verse 19

قُلۡ أَيُّ شَيۡءٍ أَكۡبَرُ شَهَٰدَةٗۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُۖ شَهِيدُۢ بَيۡنِي وَبَيۡنَكُمۡۚ وَأُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَۚ أَئِنَّكُمۡ لَتَشۡهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً أُخۡرَىٰۚ قُل لَّآ أَشۡهَدُۚ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ وَإِنَّنِي بَرِيٓءٞ مِّمَّا تُشۡرِكُونَ

Say: ‘What thing (is) greater as a witness?’ Say: ‘God is witness between me and you, and I have been inspired (with) this Qur’ān so that I may warn you by means of it, and whomever it reaches. Do you indeed bear witness that (there are) other gods with God?’ Say: ‘I do not bear witness.’ Say: ‘He is only one God. Surely I am free of what you associate.’

Verse 20

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيۡنَٰهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ يَعۡرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعۡرِفُونَ أَبۡنَآءَهُمُۘ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ فَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ

Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it, as they recognize their own sons. Those who have lost their (own) selves, they do not believe.

Verse 21

وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوۡ كَذَّبَ بِـَٔايَٰتِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفۡلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

Who is more evil than the one who forges a lie against God, or calls His signs a lie? Surely the evildoers will not prosper.

Quoted Scripture
"And He is the Irresistible, above His servants,"

meaning, to Him the necks are subservient, the tyrants humble before Him and He has complete control over all things. The creatures have all bowed to Allah and are humbled before His grace, honor, pride, greatness, highness and ability over all things. The creatures are insignificant before Him, for they are all under His irresistible decision and power,

{and He is the All-Wise,} in all His actions,

{Well-Acquainted with all things.} Who places everything in its rightful place, grants and favors whomever deserves His favor. Allah said next,

Quoted Scripture
"Say: 'What thing is the most great in witness?'"

or what is the greatest witness,

{Say : "Allah (the Most Great!) is Witness between you and I "} for He knows what I brought you and what you will answer me with,

Quoted Scripture
"this Qur'an has been revealed to me that I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach."

Therefore, this Qur’an is a warner for all those who hear of it. In another Ayah, Allah said,

Quoted Scripture
"[But those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place.](quran/11/17)"

Ar-Rabi‘ bin Anas said, “Those who follow the Messenger of Allah ought to call to what the Messenger of Allah called to and warn against what he warned against.” Allah said next,

{"Can you verily bear witness..."} O idolaters,

Quoted Scripture
"" that besides Allah there are other gods?" Say, " I bear no (such) witness!""

Similarly, in another Ayah, Allah said;

Quoted Scripture
"[Then if they testify, testify not you with them.](quran/6/150)"

Allah said next,

Quoted Scripture
"Say: "Only He is God, alone, and truly I am innocent of what you join in worship with Him.""
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.