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qul ʾa-raʾaytum mā tadʿūna min dūni llāhi ʾarūnī mādhā khalaqū mina l-ʾarḍi ʾam lahum shirkun fī s-samāwāti ʾtūnī bi-kitābin min qabli hādhā ʾaw ʾathāratin min ʿilmin ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
Say, ‘Tell me about those you invoke besides Allah. Show me what [part] of the earth have they created. Do they have any share in the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this, or some vestige of [divine] knowledge, if you are truthful.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah al-Ahqaf - Verse 4
4. Say: “Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah? Show me. What have they created of the earth? Or have they a share in [the creation of] the heavens? Bring a trace of knowledge [to substantiate your claims] if you are truthful!”
The word Athara denotes the traces and tokens of the existence of something. The logic of Divine Oneness rests on such firm and indubitable grounds that it may be used in debates with disbelievers to defeat them. In this vein, Imam Baqir (as) says:
“The word
in this Verse denotes the Torah and the Bible and the word
signifies the words of the prophets’ successors.”
The Prophet (S) in all matters related to his prophethood, even the manner of debate with opponents, acts upon Divine Command. Addressing the Noble Prophet (S), thus God Almighty says in this blessed Verse:
“O Muhammad! Ask those worshipping false deities believing in their power to show Me what they have created on the earth thanks to which they have become worthy of being worshipped and thanked.
Do they have any share in the creation of the heavens? Bring a book unto Me preceding the Qur’an to substantiate your claim. Ask them to show the tokens of their knowledge, if they are true in claiming the veracity of their godhead.”
The Verse in question indicates the logical argument produced to make disbelievers comprehend that each and every claimant produces arguments to substantiate his claims and each being has its own tokens. It is particularly true about those standing higher on the hierarchy of being. What characteristics have they found in the false deities in which disbelievers have sought refuge and before them they prostrate themselves invoking them to answer their prayers?
They merely fancy that they have made themselves close to such worthless objects. Have they created anything ex nihilo to demonstrate that it stands within their power? Have they shown any extraordinary knowledge? Have you learned that they are related to heavenly beings? The fact is that they lack any merits or privileges, but they are worthless, inanimate objects fashioned by you who claim to be sensible, knowledgeable, and humane. It stands against reason to seek refuge in inanimate things.
In short, the Verse in question bears testimony to Its Divine Origin demonstrating that whatever exists in the heavens and the earth and all things between them have come to light through Truth and the Source of Truth and the Verse substantiates Divine Oneness;
(“No one affects existence save Allah”)
and everything is from Him and is dependent on the Sublime Intellect. They are all needful of the Absolute Self-Sufficient Being.