idols
This article provides unified access to automatically tagged Quran and authentic hadith records concerning idols.
A source trail for idols
English corpus keyword. Records are generated by whole-word and phrase matching across the multilingual source corpora; verse IDs are not selected by hand.
- Quran records
- 38
- Authentic hadiths
- 17
- Connected people
- 3
Related records in the Quran
Al-Baqara 2:256
لَآ إِكْرَاهَ فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ ٱلرُّشْدُ مِنَ ٱلْغَىِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ لَا ٱنفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There is no compulsion in religion[151]; the truth has been made distinct from falsehood. Whoever rejects Tāghoot [152][i.e., false gods] and believes in Allah, has indeed grasped the strong handhold that never breaks[153]. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
[151] This is a great Islamic principle whereby no one is to be coerced to believe, but it is the duty of the believers to make sure that people know what is right and what is wrong. [152] False objects of worship, such as devils, idols, stones, sun, stars, angels, saints, graves, rulers, etc. [153] This verse immediately follows Āyat al-Kursī for good reason, as the previous verse contains clear proofs of the Oneness and Greatness of Allah, which purges Godliness from all that are worshiped besides Allah (Tāghoot).An-Nisaa 4:51
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْجِبْتِ وَٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَهْدَىٰ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ سَبِيلًا
Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in idols[37] and Tāghoot [i.e., false gods][38], and they say to the disbelievers that they are more guided than the believers[39]?
[37] al-Jibt: all sorts of false things and everything that is worshiped besides Allah. [38] al-Tāghūt: taken from ṭughyān, i.e. transgression and wrongdoing. All that transgresses against Allah. Anyone who condones being worshiped besides Allah is a ṭāghūt. [39] Ibn ‘Abbās (رضي الله عنهما) reported: “When (the Jewish scholar) Ka‘b ibn al-Ashraf came to Makkah, the Quraysh asked him: “You are the best of the people of Madinah and their master. Aren’t you?” He replied: “Yes!” They then said: “What do you think of this sonless outcast (meaning Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) claiming that he is better than us when we are the custodians of pilgrims and the caretakers of the House of Allah!” He said: “You are indeed better than him!” Then the following verses were revealed: “Indeed, your hater is the one cut off”, (108: 3) and (5: 51- 52)”. [Al-Nasā’ī, Al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 11707; Ibn Ḥibbān: 6572]An-Nisaa 4:117
إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَـٰنًا مَّرِيدًا
They call upon none besides Him except female [idols][85]; they call upon none but a rebellious Satan[86]
[85] Arabs worshiped in the age of ignorance idols with female names, like: Lāt, ‘Uzzā, Manāt. See 53:19-20. [86] They only worship false idols because Satan seduced them into this.Al-Maaida 5:3
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَـٰمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ۗ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًا ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Forbidden[5] to you are carrion, blood[6], the flesh of swine, and that which is sacrificed to other than Allah; and that which is killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored; and that which is partly eaten by a predator unless you slaughter it [before it dies]; and that which is sacrificed to idols. Also it is forbidden to use arrows [of chance][7] to determine your decisions. This is all evil practice. Today the disbelievers have lost all hope in [eliminating] your religion, so do not fear them but fear Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion. But if anyone is compelled by severe hunger, not intending to sin, then Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[5] See 2:173, 5:90. [6] What is unlawful is running blood, not the blood captured in vessels after slaughter. [7] Al-istiqsām bi al-azlām (lit. divining by casting lots): This was an Arab practice before Islam, whereby they had three lots (flat marked pieces of wood) dedicated to divinations. On each there was written either: “My Lord commanded me”, “My Lord forbade me”, or nothing at all. A person would abide by what the lot told him, but if he drew the empty one, he would recast again until he drew either one of the other two. [cf. al-Tabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Sa‘dī]Al-Maaida 5:90
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who believe, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters[65] and divining arrows are of Satan’s evil work; therefore avoid such [evil], so that you may be successful.
[65] Ansāb are stones or idols that were erected for worship and sacrificial offerings.Al-Maaida 5:103
مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ وَلَا سَآئِبَةٍ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ وَلَا حَامٍ ۙ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ ۖ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Allah did not ordain any such thing as the Bahīrah, Sā’ibah, Wasīlah, and Hām [i.e., dedicated camels to idols][69]. Rather those who disbelieve fabricate lies against Allah, and most of them do not understand.
[69] Camels dedicated to idols and set free to pasture, liberated from the service of man. Bahīrah: a she-camel whose riding and milking were forbidden. Sā’ibah: a she-camel that was let loose for free pasture for their idols and nothing was allowed to be carried on it. Waṣīlah: a she-camel set free for idols for it has given birth to a she-camel at its first and second delivery. Hām: a stallion-camel freed from work for the sake of their idols, after breeding ten live births.Al-An'aam 6:74
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And [remember] when Abraham said to his father, Āzar, “Do you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people are clearly misguided.”
Al-An'aam 6:76
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْـَٔافِلِينَ
When the night grew dark upon him, he saw a star and said, “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said, “I do not like those that set.”[24]
[24] Abraham wanted to show them futility and folly of worshiping mere idols by a logical conclusion.Al-An'aam 6:136
وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ مِنَ ٱلْحَرْثِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ نَصِيبًا فَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا لِلَّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَـٰذَا لِشُرَكَآئِنَا ۖ فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ فَلَا يَصِلُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَىٰ شُرَكَآئِهِمْ ۗ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
They assign to Allah a portion of the crops and livestock He created, saying, “This is for Allah” – as they claim – “and this is for our partners [i.e., idols].” But that which is assigned for their partners does not reach Allah, while that which is assigned for Allah reaches their partners[44]. How unfair their judgment is!
[44] It was an Arab heathen ritual to allocate two shares out of their livestock; a share for God and a share for idols. If a portion of God’s share was mixed with that of their idols, they would not deduct it, saying that God is in no need of it. Yet if a portion of their idols’ share fell with that of God’s they would readily cut it and add it on to their idols’ share.Al-An'aam 6:138
وَقَالُوا۟ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أَنْعَـٰمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ لَّا يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلَّا مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـٰمٌ لَّا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا ٱفْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ ۚ سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
They say, “These livestock and crops are reserved, none may eat them except those[46] whom we wish,” – as they claim – and there are livestock whose backs are forbidden [from labor][47], and livestock over whom they do not mention the name of Allah [while slaughtering] – fabricating lies against Him[48]. He will punish them for their lies.
[46] i.e., the servants of idols and others. [47] The four categories of grazing livestock were dedicated to their idols and false deities, and they were forbidden from riding and labor. See 5:103. [48] i.e., false claims that these practices are part of Allah’s religion.Al-A'raaf 7:138
وَجَـٰوَزْنَا بِبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا۟ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰمُوسَى ٱجْعَل لَّنَآ إِلَـٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
We led the Children of Israel across the sea, then they came upon a people who were devoted to their idols. They said, “O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods.” He said, “You are indeed an ignorant people.
Al-A'raaf 7:195
أَلَهُمْ أَرْجُلٌ يَمْشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَيْدٍ يَبْطِشُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَآ ۖ أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۗ قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ شُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ كِيدُونِ فَلَا تُنظِرُونِ
Do they have feet to walk with? Or hands to grasp with? Or eyes to see with? Or ears to hear with? Say [O Prophet], “Call your idols then conspire against me and give me no respite[86]!
[86] This outright challenge highlights the powerlessness of their gods.Yunus 10:35
قُلْ هَلْ مِن شُرَكَآئِكُم مَّن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى لِلْحَقِّ ۗ أَفَمَن يَهْدِىٓ إِلَى ٱلْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لَّا يَهِدِّىٓ إِلَّآ أَن يُهْدَىٰ ۖ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
Say, “Can any of your [so-called] partners guide to the truth[35]?” Say, “Allah guides to the truth.” Who is then more worthy to be followed: the One Who guides to the truth, or he who has no guidance unless he himself is guided? What is the matter with you, that you judge so[36]?
[35] Failure of idols is further exposed that they are unable to guide to the straight path. [36] How errantly you judge and equate between Allah and your idols?!Ibrahim 14:35
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ
And [remember] when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this city [of Makkah] secure and save me and my children from worshiping idols.
Ibrahim 14:36
رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
My Lord, they[26] have led many people astray. So whoever follows me, he belongs to me; and whoever disobeys me, then You are All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[26] i.e., idols.An-Nahl 16:56
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ
They assign a portion of what We have provided for them to those [idols] who know nothing. By Allah, you will surely be called to account for what you used to fabricate.
An-Nahl 16:74
فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
So do not make comparisons to Allah[49]. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know[50].
[49] As there is none comparable to Him. [50] Due to not realizing Allah’s Greatness and out of their ignorance, they draw comparisons between Him and their idols.An-Nahl 16:75
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَـٰهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوُۥنَ ۚ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allah makes a comparison of a bonded slave who has no power over anything and a [free] person whom We granted good provision from Us, and he spends from it secretly and openly. Are they equal? All praise be to Allah. But most of them do not know[51].
[51] No sane person would equate the two, then how do they equate the Creator of the Possessor of the whole universe and the inanimate idols in worship?!An-Nahl 16:76
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَىٰ مَوْلَىٰهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ ۖ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۙ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
And Allah makes a comparison of two men, one of them is dumb and unable to do anything, and he is a burden to his master; wherever he directs him, he brings no good[52]. Is he equal to the one who enjoins justice and follows a straight path?
[52] This is the description of their idols who are mute, deaf, mindless, and not able to do anything.Al-Israa 17:81
وَقُلْ جَآءَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
And say, “The truth has come and falsehood has perished. Indeed, falsehood is bound to perish[73].”
[73] Abdullāh Ibn Mas‘ūd (رضي الله عنه) narrated that: “The Prophet (ﷺ) entered Makkah on the day of its conquest, and there were around 360 idols around the Ka‘bah. He went on thrusting them with a stick in his hand making them tumble down and saying: “The Truth has come and falsehood has perished...” [al-Bukhārī: 87; Muslim: 1781]Al-Kahf 18:50
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And [remember] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” so they all prostrated except Iblīs, who was one of the jinn, but he disobeyed the command of his Lord. Will you then take him and his progeny as protectors instead of Me[28], even though they are your enemies[29]? What a terrible exchange for the wrongdoers!
[28] Demons could possess their idols and communicate through them; they also used to seek refuge from the evil of the jinn by appraising them and slaughtering sacrifices for them. [29] Satan along with his fellow demons continues to lead people astray from the right Path.Al-Anbiyaa 21:57
وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَـٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
By Allah, I will surely plot against your idols after you have turned and gone away.”
Al-Anbiyaa 21:99
لَوْ كَانَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ءَالِهَةً مَّا وَرَدُوهَا ۖ وَكُلٌّ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
If these [idols] had truly been gods, they would not have entered it. But they will all abide therein forever.
Ash-Shu'araa 26:71
قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَـٰكِفِينَ
They said, “We worship idols and remain devoted to them.”
Ash-Shu'araa 26:77
فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Indeed, they are my enemies, except the Lord of the worlds[12],
[12] As they worshiped idols in addition to worshiping Allah.Al-Ankaboot 29:17
إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَٱبْتَغُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزْقَ وَٱعْبُدُوهُ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
You worship nothing besides Allah but idols and fabricate lies. Those whom you worship besides Allah have no power to give you provision. So seek provision from Allah, worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will all be returned.
Al-Ankaboot 29:24
فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ ٱقْتُلُوهُ أَوْ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
His people’s only response was to say, “Kill him or burn him!” But Allah saved him from the fire[6]. Indeed, there are signs in this for people who believe.
[6] The people of Abraham tried to burn him because he called them to worship Allah alone without associating others with Him; eventually, he smashed their idols. For the full story see 21:51-71.Al-Ankaboot 29:25
وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
He said, “You have taken idols other than Allah as a means of love among yourselves in the life of this world, but on the Day of Resurrection you will disown and curse one another. Your abode will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers.”
Al-Ankaboot 29:67
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا جَعَلْنَا حَرَمًا ءَامِنًا وَيُتَخَطَّفُ ٱلنَّاسُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِمْ ۚ أَفَبِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ
Do they not see that We have made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people around them are being snatched away?[20] Do they still believe in falsehood[21] and show ingratitude to Allah’s favors?
[20] Makkah, especially Ka‘bah, was considered a sanctuary; as fighting was forbidden therein, and whoever entered it was safe. Whereas people were being killed and taken as captives in other cities of Arabia. [21] i.e., in idols and false gods.Yaseen 36:75
لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مُّحْضَرُونَ
They cannot help them, yet they serve them as their dedicated guards[21].
[21] Or their idols or so-called gods will be assembled to witness the punishment of their worshipers on the Day of Judgment.As-Saaffaat 37:88
فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِى ٱلنُّجُومِ
He then cast a glance at the stars[20],
[20] His people had faith in astrology, so Abraham pretended to do the same to show them that he was not able to join them at their pagan feast and to remain in their temple of idols, while he was planning to destroy their idols.Az-Zukhruf 43:57
وَلَمَّا ضُرِبَ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ مَثَلًا إِذَا قَوْمُكَ مِنْهُ يَصِدُّونَ
When the example of the son of Mary was given, your people laughed and jeered[22],
[22] When 21:98 was revealed, warning the pagans that all what they worship besides Allah will be in Hell, a poet who was a staunch enemy of Islam, Abdullah ibn az-Ziba‘ra, along with other pagans jeered and laughed arguing that Jesus will be in Hell as well! The Prophet (ﷺ) replied that the verse was talking exclusively about idols, adding that Jesus himself did not ask to be worshiped. Verse 21:101 was later revealed in support of the Prophet declaring that they are exempted.Al-Ahqaf 46:28
فَلَوْلَا نَصَرَهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ قُرْبَانًا ءَالِهَةًۢ ۖ بَلْ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ إِفْكُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
Why is it that they were not helped by those [idols] whom they took as gods besides Allah so that they might bring them closer to Him[12]? Rather, they were lost from them. Such was [the outcome of] their falsehood and the lies they used to fabricate.
[12] As they used to claim.An-Najm 53:19
أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ ٱللَّـٰتَ وَٱلْعُزَّىٰ
Have you [O disbelievers] thought about [the idols of] Lāt and ‘Uzzā,
An-Najm 53:20
وَمَنَوٰةَ ٱلثَّالِثَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰٓ
and Manāt, the third one as well[8]?
[8] These were three well-known idols or goddesses worshiped by Arab pagans before the advent of Islam.An-Najm 53:23
إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ
These [idols] are no more than names you and your forefathers have made up[9], for which Allah has not sent down any authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although there has come to them guidance from their Lord.
[9] i.e., You have considered them gods while in fact, they are not.An-Najm 53:24
أَمْ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ مَا تَمَنَّىٰ
Is it that man can get whatever he wishes for[10]?
[10] The pagans worshiped these idols wishing that they would intercede for them on the Day of Resurrection. See 39:3.Nooh 71:23
وَقَالُوا۟ لَا تَذَرُنَّ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُنَّ وَدًّا وَلَا سُوَاعًا وَلَا يَغُوثَ وَيَعُوقَ وَنَسْرًا
They said, ‘Do not abandon your gods; and do not abandon Wadd, Suwā‘, Yaghūth, Ya‘ūq, and Nasr[8].’
[8] These were the names of idols named after pious men of past generations before the time of Noah, to commemorate them. In later generations, people started worshiping these idols.