" Will they associate [with Me] those that do not create, but are [themselves] created - those that can bring them no victory?" (Qur'an 7:191-192)

Allah (swt ) rejects and censures the polytheists from among the Arabs and the non-Arabs in this verse, and those false gods which they worship beside Allah (swt ) which can not bring into being anything - for they are themselves created from nothing, and cannot help those who worship them - in fact, they cannot even help themselves, should some misfortune befall them! And this is the ultimate in weakness and powerlessness.

1. Evidence of the ignorance of the polytheists.

2. Confirmation of the weakness and powerlessness of all that is worshipped beside Allah, and that therefore, logically, they are not fit to be worshipped.

That they prove the negation of all worship except that of Allah (swt ), and that to do so is false and rejected, and this includes everything to which people turn besides Allah (swt ), such as graves, trees and such like.

That they prove that turning towards other than Allah (swt ) in order to obtain some benefit or protection from harm is an act of Shirk.

The warning here is against worshipping those who are blessed with the power of thinking and logic, though many objects of worship are inanimate, and unaware of what is said or believed concerning them.

..ooOOoo..

Allah (swt ), says:

" He merges the night into the day [i.e. the decrease in the hours of the night is added to the hours of the day] and He merges the day into the night [i.e. the decrease in the hours of the day is added to the hours of the night]. And He has subjected the sun and the moon: Each runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah, your Lord; His is the Dominion. And those whom you call upon instead of Him, own not even a qitmeer [the thin membrane covering a date-stone]. If you call upon them, they hear not your call and even were they to hear, they could not grant it [your request] to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your ascribing them as partners [with Allah]. And none can inform you [oh, Muhammad!] like He [the All-knowing]" (Qur'an 35:13-14)

Allah (swt ), Most Glorified, Most High, informs us in these verses that He decreases the hours of the night, and adds them to the hours of daylight, and vice versa, according to the changing seasons, by Allah's Will and in accordance with His Divine Decree. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. These two lights bring innumerable benefits to mankind, by Allah's Will, and He Who is Able to do all things has the exclusive right of Rabbship and to be worshipped alone, without partners - How could it be otherwise, when His is the Dominion over all created things, and everything that is worshipped besides Him possesses nothing, not even the covering of a date-stone, and does not hear the supplication of those who call upon him? And even were they able to hear, they would be incapable of responding to it; indeed, they will reject those who worshipped them and their Shirk on the Day of Resurrection, and none besides Allah (swt ), the All-knowing, could inform the Messenger (saas ) of the truth of these matters and their outcome.

1. That the sun and moon move in their orbits and are not stationary.

2. That idols do not possess any power to benefit or harm those who worship them, either in this world or in the Hereafter.

3. That Shirk will be the cause of enmity between the worshipers and the worshipped.

4. That knowledge should be taken from its original source - in this case, Allah, Who is the source of all knowledge.

That the verses reject and condemn the idea that those deities worshipped besides Allah (swt ) have any power to benefit or harm the worshipers.

That the verses prove that making Du'aa` to other than Allah (swt ) is Shirk.

..ooOOoo..

It is authentically reported on the authority of Anas (ra ) that the Prophet (saas ) was struck during the battle of Uhud, and one of his molar teeth was broken, at which he said: "How can a people ever be successful, when they strike their Prophet?" and so it was revealed:

" The matter is not for your decision: Whether He turns in mercy to them or punishes them; for verily, they are the wrongdoers" (Qur'an 3:128) ¹

Anas Ibn Malik (ra ) informs us in this Hadith that the Prophet (saas ) received an injury to his head, which bled and one of his teeth was broken during the Battle of Uhud, and he became despondent of the prospect of their accepting Islam because of this outrage against the personage of Allah's chosen Messenger and the enmity which they showed for him. Then Allah (swt ) revealed this verse:

" The matter is not for your decision..."

And so it became clear to him the path that he must follow and that forgiveness or punishment for these polytheists rests with Allah (swt ), Most Glorified, Most High, Alone and with no other.

1. That the Prophets are subject to illness and injury, which is proof of their humanity and a rejection of those who ascribe Divine Attributes to them.²

2. That the Prophets are unable to do anything, except what Allah (swt ) Wills for them, so how about other lesser creatures?

3. None knows what a person's last actions will be except Allah (swt ).

4. That turning to Allah (swt ) in sincere repentance wipes out all previous sins.

5. That wrongdoing (i.e. Shirk) will be punished.

That it proves that the Prophets, who are the best of people do not possess any power to benefit or harm, so what about other lesser creatures?

That the Hadith proves that benefit or harm comes only from Allah (swt ), and requesting it from other than Him is Shirk.

..ooOOoo..

It is reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar (ra ) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saas ) saying as he raised his head from bowing, in the second rak'ah of fajr prayer: "Oh, Allah (swt )! Curse so-and-so and so-and-so," after saying: "Sami' Allahu Liman Hamidah," and: "Rabbanaa wa Lak Al-Hamd." And so Allah (swt ) revealed:

" The matter is not for your decision..." ." ³

In another narration, it is reported that he (saas ) made Du'aa` against Safwaan Ibn Umayyah, Suhail Ibn `Amr and Al-Harith Ibn Hisham, and so this verse was revealed:

" The matter is not for your decision..."

`Abdullah Ibn `Umar (ra ) informs us in this Hadith that the Prophet (saas ), while straightening up from bowing in the second unit of the dawn prayer, said: "Allah hears the one who praises Him," and: "Our Rabb! To You is due all praise." Then he invoked Allah's Curse on the heads of a number of the pagans of Quraish, in one narration, naming them; then Allah (swt ) revealed to him a verse prohibiting him from doing so because of Allah's Knowledge of what the future held for some of them, who would eventually embrace Islam, and become good Muslims.

Benefits Derived From This Hadith

1. That the Imam recites "Sami' Allahu Liman Hamidah," as well as "Rabbanaa wa Lak Al-Hamd."

2. The lawfulness of invoking Allah (swt ) upon someone in times of need.

3. Proof that the Qur'an is revealed, not created.

4. Evidence that the Prophets do not possess any power to benefit or harm anyone, nor do they have knowledge of the unseen.

That it proves that the Prophets, though they are the best of people, do not have power to benefit or harm, so what of lesser creatures?

That it proves that benefit and harm are in Allah's power only, and so seeking them from other than Him is an act of Shirk.

It has been authenticated that the three persons mentioned in the Hadith, Safwaan Ibn Umayyah, Al-Haarith Ibn Hishaam and Suhail Ibn `Amr all later embraced Islam.

..ooOOoo..

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra ) that when this verse was revealed:

" And warn your nearest kinsmen" (Qur'an 26:214)

Allah's Messenger (saas ) stood up and said: "Oh, you people of Quraish (or something similar)! Save your own souls! I possess nothing with which to protect you from Allah (swt ). Oh, `Abbas Ibn `Abdul Muttalib! I possess nothing with which to protect you from Allah (swt ). Oh, Safiyyah, aunt of the Messenger of Allah (saas )! I possess nothing with which to protect you from Allah (swt ). Oh, Fatimah Bint Muhammad! Ask me of what I have anything you which; I possess nothing with which to protect you from Allah (swt )."

Abu Hurairah (ra ) informs us in this Hadith, that when the Words of Allah:

" And warn your nearest kinsmen"

Were revealed, the Messenger of Allah (saas ) stood amongst them and addressed them, requesting them to save themselves from the punishment of Allah (swt ) by obeying Him and His Messenger (saas ) and that he could not save them or protect them from Allah's severe chastisement. Then he addressed some of his close family members, one at a time, so that they should not be proud or conceited and depend upon their relationship to him.

1. That the Qur'an is revealed, not created.

2. That nothing can benefit a person except his good deeds.

3. The falseness of relying on one's ancestry or family ties to save him from Allah's punishment, rather than good deeds.

4. Those closest to Allah's Messenger (saas ) are those who obey him, not those who claim close family ties.

5. The permissibility of asking the Messenger of Allah (saas ) for that which was in his power while he was alive.

That the Hadith proves that the Prophets do not possess any benefit for any person, nor any harm, so how could any lesser person?

Relevance of This Hadith to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves that bringing benefit or harm is the special prerogative of Allah (swt ), Alone and therefore seeking them from other than Him is an act of Shirk.

There is no contradiction between this Hadith and the Ahadith which confirm the Prophet's intercession, because the latter inform us that he will intercede for the Believers after Allah (swt ) Allows him to do so, while the former Hadith rejects the idea that he can save us of his own self.

Footnotes

1. Narrated by Muslim.

2. Such as the Jews who claimed that 'Uzair (as) was their god, and the Christians, who claimed that Eesa (u) was the son of God, and the deviant Braillawis, who ascribe divine Attributes to the Prophet Muhammad (saas).

3. Reported by An-Neesaaboori in "Asbaab An-Nuzool", who said: "It was narrated by Bukhari. and by Muslim.