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wa-yaʿbudūna min dūni llāhi mā lā yamliku lahum rizqan mina s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi shayʾan wa-lā yastaṭīʿūna
They worship besides Allah what has no power to provide them with anything from the heavens and the earth, nor are they capable [of anything].
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 73
73. “And they worship other than Allah that has no power to provide them, of sustenance, anything from the heavens and the earth and can do nothing.”
Following the previous discussions on monotheism, this verse deals with the issue of paganism and, taking a stern and blaming tone, declares that they worship idols other than Allah which do not have at their disposal any means of sustenance in the skies and on the earth. They are not only the proprietors of anything in this regard, but they also have no capabilities to create and have access to the means of sustenance. The verses says:
“And they worship other than Allah that has no power to provide them, of sustenance, anything from the heavens and the earth and can do nothing.”
This style of meaning makes allusion to the matter that the pagans believed in and worshipped idols for they considered them as an impact in their destiny, their profits and their losses, while the worshipped one must be both provider of means of sustenance and mighty. However, the partners whom they designate for Allah are neither able to make provisions now nor in the future. Their imaginary objects of worship are neither able to pour rains from the sky nor are they able to grow plants on the earth.