Al-Furqan · Makki · ayah 18 of 77

Al-Furqan 25:18

قَالُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنۢبَغِى لَنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ وَلَـٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَءَابَآءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا۟ ٱلذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بُورًا

“They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies [i.e., protectors]. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined."”

Saheeh International

Essence

The worshipped glorify Him and disown all worship, naming the real cause: comfort down the generations, until people forgot and were left barren.

A reflection

The first word of the most honoured

Asked whether they misled people, the angels and the prophets do not begin with a defence. They begin with subḥānaka, glory be to You.

The word declares Him far above every flaw. Its root carries distance: tanzīh, putting at a distance. The Arabs said subḥāna in wonder, meaning how far He is from that. A classical view links the same letters to swimming and to stars gliding in orbit. The lexicons differ on how the two senses meet.

The commentators read their first word in several ways. It may be astonishment that such a thing was said of them. It may be a reminder of who they are: those who glorify Him could never lead people to worship themselves. Or it may simply clear Him of every partner, whether idol, prophet or angel.

Then they add: mā kāna yanbaghī lanā, it was never fitting for us to take protectors besides You. One strong reading runs: if we ourselves take no one but You, how could we call others to take us?

Let that land on the ego. These are beings people actually worshipped. They were offered the highest honour a creature can be given by others, and they reject it with horror. Compare the small honours we chase. The title, the applause, the follower count, the need to be the one people turn to.

The most exalted creatures know their size before Him. Pride is not a sign of greatness. It is a sign of not having seen Him clearly.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.