Context from Tafheem: Following the severe warning to those who die in a state of disbelief, the discourse now returns to the foundational, positive creed of Islam. These verses reassert the core of Tawhid (the Oneness of God) in a powerful, declarative manner, and then paint a vivid picture of the ultimate regret and helplessness that will define the relationships between misguided leaders and their followers in the Hellfire.
سورة البقرة (Surah Al-Baqarah)
آية 163
القرآن: وَإِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ
Translation: And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Explanation (Tafheemul Quran): Maududi explains that this is a clear, concise, and definitive declaration of Islamic monotheism. It serves as the unshakeable foundation upon which all other beliefs and laws are built. The verse emphasizes both God’s oneness and His mercy—He is the only being worthy of worship precisely because He is the source of all compassion and grace. This statement directly opposes polytheism and the Christian concept of the Trinity.
آية 164
القرآن: إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن مَّاءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Translation: Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every kind of moving creature, and the directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason.
Explanation: This magnificent verse, as Maududi describes, provides the rational proof for the declaration made in verse 163. It invites humanity to observe and reflect upon the “signs” (ayat) in the universe—the flawless design, intricate systems, and purposeful creation—all of which point inevitably to a single, all-wise, all-powerful Creator. The list covers cosmic order, temporal cycles, maritime transport, the water cycle, revival of land, zoological diversity, and meteorological systems. These are not random occurrences but coherent evidence for “a people who use reason.”
آية 165
القرآن: وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ
Translation: And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they should love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. If only the wrongdoers could see, when they see the punishment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.
Explanation: Maududi explains that this verse diagnoses the spiritual disease of Shirk (associating partners with God). The polytheists love their false deities—idols, saints, desires, leaders—with the intensity of love that is due to God alone. In contrast, the believers’ love for God is stronger and exclusive. The verse then provides a terrifying glimpse of the Day of Judgment: if the wrongdoers could only see the punishment at that moment, they would realize two truths: 1) “all power belongs to Allah” alone, and their false gods are powerless, and 2) “Allah is severe in punishment” for the sin of Shirk.
آية 166
القرآن: إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ
Translation: [And they should consider] when those who were followed will disown those who followed them, and they will see the punishment, and cut off from them will be their means [of escape].
Explanation: This verse begins a graphic portrayal of the mutual betrayal and despair in Hell. The “those who were followed”—the arrogant leaders, false prophets, and inventors of misguidance—will utterly disown their followers. They will deny any responsibility for leading them astray.
آية 167
القرآن: وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ
Translation: And those who followed will say, “If only we had another chance to return, we would disown them as they have disowned us.” Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they will never get out of the Fire.
Explanation: The followers, witnessing this betrayal, will be filled with bitter regret. Their wish will be: if only they could return to life, they would in turn disown and reject their leaders. But this wish is futile. Maududi concludes that “thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them.” All their actions in life will appear before them as nothing but causes of loss and remorse. The final, devastating sentence underscores the permanence of their fate: “And they will never get out of the Fire.”
Summary from Tafheemul Quran Perspective (Verses 163-167):
This passage, according to Maududi, masterfully contrasts two realities:
- The Reality of Truth: The absolute oneness and merciful sovereignty of God, supported by overwhelming evidence in creation for those who reflect.
- The Reality of Falsehood’s End: The ultimate consequence of worshipping or following anything besides God: a scene of mutual hatred, betrayal, irreversible regret, and eternal punishment.
The lesson is clear: the only bond that will endure is the bond with God. All other allegiances, if they contravene divine truth, will end in blame and abandonment on the Day when “all power belongs to Allah.” This serves as a severe warning against blind following and polytheism in all its forms.
Messages from Quran 