Interesting points on One creator only

Context and Background (Shan-e-Nuzul)

These verses are part of Surah Al-Isra, which was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense confrontation between the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the pagan Quraysh. The core of the conflict was Tawhid (the Oneness of God) versus Shirk (polytheism).

The Quraysh, despite their ancestral connection to the monotheism of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), had filled the Ka’bah with idols. When the Prophet (ﷺ) called them to worship the One True God, they responded with ridicule and arguments. A common objection was: “If there is only one God, who is so powerful and busy managing the universe, why would He care about individuals? We need smaller, intermediary gods (idols, angels, jinn) to intercede with Him for our daily needs.”

Verses 42-44 are a powerful, logical, and rhetorical response to this very misconception.

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Verse-by-Verse Explanation from Tafheem-ul-Quran

Verse 17:42

“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If there had been with Him [other] gods, as they say, then they [each] would have sought to the Owner of the Throne a way.'”

• Explanation: This is a decisive logical argument against polytheism. Maududi explains it as follows:
  • The pagans believed in a hierarchy of gods. They acknowledged a supreme “Lord of the Worlds” (Allah), but believed that lesser deities (idols, angels, etc.) were closer to Him and could intercede.
  • This verse demolishes that idea. It states that if there were other gods besides the One True God, each of them would have tried to become autonomous and would have sought a way to dethrone the Supreme God to take His place.
  • The phrase “Owner of the Throne” (Arsh) is a metaphor for absolute authority and sovereignty over the entire creation. In a system of multiple gods, competition for supreme power is inevitable. The fact that the universe is running in a perfectly harmonious and orderly manner is itself proof that there is only One Sovereign Authority, with no rivals or partners.

Verse 17:43

“Glorified is He and exalted high above what they say, a great falsehood!”

• Explanation: After presenting the logical argument, this verse offers a declaration of Allah’s absolute perfection and transcendence.
  • “Glorified is He and exalted high above…”: The word “Subhanahu” (Glorified is He) means He is free from, pure, and far above any imperfection, weakness, or any concept that is unworthy of His majesty.
  • The very idea that He could have a rival, a partner, a wife, or a son is so absurd and abominable that it cannot even touch His sacred being. It is rejected as a “great falsehood” (Kuftan Azeema).

Verse 17:44

“The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it glorifies Him by [His] praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.”

• Explanation: This is the climax of the argument, moving from logic to the testimony of the entire cosmos.
  • Universal Praise: The entire creation, from the highest heavens to the smallest particle on earth, is constantly engaged in declaring the glory, perfection, and oneness of its Creator. This is not a silent state of being; it is an active, continuous act of worship and praise (Tasbeeh), specific to each creature’s nature and capacity.
  • Human Ignorance: “But you do not understand their [way of] exalting.” Maududi emphasizes that humans, in their limited perception, cannot hear or comprehend this universal symphony of praise. We see a stone, a tree, or a star, but we do not perceive their inherent state of submission and glorification. Our ignorance, however, does not negate this reality.
  • A Concluding Act of Mercy: The verse ends with a reminder of Allah’s attributes: “Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” Despite the polytheists’ grave sin of associating partners with Him and their failure to recognize the clear evidence in the universe, Allah does not immediately punish them. He gives them respite, time to reflect, and the opportunity to repent. This ending softens the sternness of the preceding argument with a touch of divine mercy.

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Summary of Key Lessons from Tafheem-ul-Quran

1. The Logical Impossibility of Polytheism: The existence of multiple gods would lead to chaos and a struggle for power, which is contrary to the perfect order observed in the universe. This order is a manifest sign of a single, undisputed Sovereign.
2. Allah’s Transcendence: God is not just one; He is beyond human imagination and any anthropomorphic concepts. He is utterly free from the deficiencies implied by shirk.
3. The Testimony of Creation: The entire cosmos is a living proof of Tawhid. Every atom is in a state of submission and praise to its Creator. Belief in One God is not an alien concept; it is the fundamental reality of existence that the polytheists are blind to.
4. Divine Forbearance: Even when people commit the ultimate sin of shirk, Allah’s mercy and patience give them time to see the truth and turn back to Him. This is a call to reflection, not just a condemnation.

In essence, these verses provide a multi-faceted argument for Tawhid: a logical argument (v.42), a declaration of God’s transcendence (v.43), and a cosmic, observable argument (v.44), all while leaving the door of forgiveness open for those who err.