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ʾam lahum shurakāʾu sharaʿū lahum mina d-dīni mā lam yaʾdhan bihi llāhu wa-law-lā kalimatu l-faṣli la-quḍiya baynahum wa-ʾinna ẓ-ẓālimīna lahum ʿadhābun ʾalīmun
Do they have deities [besides Allah] who have ordained for them a religion not permitted by Allah? Were it not for a [prior] conclusive word, judgement would have been made between them, and indeed a painful punishment awaits the wrongdoers.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Shura - Verse 21
21. Or have they partners with Allah [false deities] who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not ordained? And had it not been for a decisive Word [as to giving respite to sinners], the matter would have been judged between them [through causing their perdition]. And verily, for the wrong doers there is an excruciating torment.
Man is in need of Divine Laws and such need may solely be met by God Almighty rather than anyone else. Divine Laws are solely realized through Divine Permission without which it shall be devoid of legitimacy and lawfulness. Addressing his son, Imam ‘Ali (as) says:
“Had your Lord had partners, messengers would have come to you from them.”
The blessed Verse in question imparts the same sense:
Concerning Divine respites, Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (as) says:
“O Lord! My recompense for my first sin was Hellfire [but you granted me respite].”
The blessed Verse is a warning to disbelievers against institution of secular laws together with their satanic associates from amongst jinn and mankind without Divine Permission. Such act is so vicious that had there not been Divine Decree as to giving respites in this world and chastisement in the Hereafter, they would have afflicted Divine torments in this world as well. There shall be excruciating torments for wrong doers who wrong their own selves and act upon laws besides Divine Laws. The blessed Verse may be applied to our own time in which some people legislate laws against Islamic laws and legislators should know that their wrong act shall entail painful torments.