SURAH (21) AL-ANBIYAA (AYA 11 to 30)

SECTION 2

Everthing in the Universe belongs only to God

Everything in the heavens and on the earth belongs only to God – Every Apostle of God preached the Unity of God and service only to Him.

وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ كَانَتْ ظَالِمَةً وَأَنْشَأْنَا بَعْدَهَا قَوْمًا آخَرِينَ {21:11}

[Q21:11] Wa kam qasamnaa min qaryatin kannat zaalimatanw wa anshadnaa ba'dahaa qawman aakhareen.
[Q21:11] And how many a town which was iniquitous did We demolish, and We raised up after it another people!

[Q21:11] Dan berapa banyak Kami telah pecah-belahkan dan binasakan penduduk negeri yang melakukan kezaliman dan Kami telah menjadikan sesudah mereka, kaum yang lain sebagai gantinya.  

(see commentary for verse 10)

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(21:11) Many a habitation of wicked people is there, which We crushed to piece, and after them raised up another people.

فَلَمَّا أَحَسُّوا بَأْسَنَا إِذَا هُمْ مِنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ {21:12}

[Q21:12] Falammaaa ahassoo baasanaaa izaaa hum minhaa yarkudoon. 
[Q21:12] So when they felt Our punishment, lo! They began to fly. 

[Q21:12] Maka ketika mereka merasai (kedatangan) azab Kami, mereka dengan serta-merta lari keluar dari negeri itu. 

People do not avail of the respite given to them AND when the Wrath of ALLAH (SWT) comes, they try to flee from it; BUT where would they go?

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(21:12) When they perceived Our Scourge *13 they began to flee the place.

*13 That is, "When they realized that Allah's scourge was actually coming.

لَا تَرْكُضُوا وَارْجِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَا أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَاكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْأَلُونَ {21:13}

[Q21:13] Laa tarkudoo warji'ooo ilaa maaa utriftum feehe wa masaakinikum la'allakum tus'aloon. 
[Q21:13] Do not fly (now) and come back to what you were made to lead easy lives in and to your dwellings, haply you will be questioned.

[Q21:13] (Lalu dikatakan kepada mereka): Janganlah kamu lari dan sebaliknya kembalilah kepada kemewahan hidup yang telah diberikan kepada kamu dan ke tempat-tempat tinggal kamu, supaya kamu dapat ditanya mengenai apa yang berlaku.

It is an ironical statement asking them why they do not return to the life of the luxuries on earth, which they were engrossed in and thought **the life on earth to be permanent and **they did not believe in the Day of Reckoning.

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(21:13) (Then it was said to them) "Do not run away: go back to the same life of luxury and the houses where you were making merry: perhaps you may be asked about it." *14

*14 This is a very meaningful sentence. It may mean:
(1) "Examine this scourge minutely so that if someone asks you about it, you may be able to give an accurate account of it." 
(2) "Hold your grand meetings as usual: perhaps your servants may come with folded hands before you to receive orders." 
(3) "Hold your councils as before, perhaps people may still come to ask for your wise counsels." 

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ {21:14}

[Q21:14] Qaaloo yaa wailanaaa innaa kunnaa zaalimeen. 
[Q21:14] They said: O woe to us! Surely we were unjust.

[Q21:14] (Akhirnya) mereka berkata: Aduhai celakanya kami! Sesungguhnya kami adalah orang-orang yang berlaku zalim! 

This would be the repentant lamentations of the disbelievers.

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(21:14) They cried out, "Woe be to us: indeed we were wrong-doers."

فَمَا زَالَتْ تِلْكَ دَعْوَاهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَاهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَامِدِينَ {21:15}

[Q21:15] Famaa zaalat tilka da'waahum hattaa ja'alnaahum haseedan khaamideen. 
[Q21:15] And this ceased not to be their cry till We made them cut as a field that is mown, as ashes silent and quenched.

[Q21:15] Maka demikianlah seterusnya jeritan dan keluhan mereka, sehingga Kami jadikan mereka hancur lebur dan sunyi-sepi.

The two similes refer to the fate with which the disbelievers are warned, as to what their end would be.

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(21:15) They went on crying out this very thing till We threshed them, leaving no spark of life in them.

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ {21:16}

[Q21:16] Wa maa khalaqnas samaaa'a wal arda wa maa bainahumaa laa'ibeen. 
[Q21:16] And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.

[Q21:16] Dan (ingatlah) tidaklah Kami menciptakan langit dan bumi serta segala yang ada di antaranya, secara main-main.  

Refer to the commentary of An-am 6:70.

The universe is not the outcome of a wish to indulge in pastime, BUT is created with wisdom and purpose, and is a serious reality to be reckoned with. This repudiates the doctrines of maya and lila and their implications. If such an idea as that of play or pastime had been possible with regard to ALLAH (SWT), AND IF He had wished really to indulge in pastime, He would have done it with the things of real excellence near to Him, not with the lowly creation that we see around us.

MAN TRIES TO PERCEIVE ALLAH (SWT) IN THE LIGHT OF HIS OWN THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND URGES, THEREFORE, he thinks that like him, ALLAH (SWT) also takes pleasure in fun and frolic and created the creation for His amusement as the "authorities" in his society amuse themselves with women, children and other sensuous pleasures. IF AT ALL the purpose is amusement, what amuses ALLAH (SWT) is quite different from that which amuses man. Verse 18 asserts the seriousness of the purpose.

Ø  Mimma tasifun (what you ascribe) refers to the false belief of associate-gods (Anbiya 21:22), begotten son (Anbiya 21:26) and ALLAH (SWT)'s daughters (Nahl 16:57).

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(21:16) We have not created for a pastime the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. *15

*15 This was to refute their entire conception of life which was based on the assumption that man was free to do whatever he liked, and there was none to call him to account or take him to task: that there was no life in the Hereafter where one's good deeds would be rewarded and evil deeds punished. In other words, this meant that the whole universe had been created without any serious purpose and therefore there was no need to pay any heed to the Message of the Prophet.

لَوْ أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَاتَّخَذْنَاهُ مِنْ لَدُنَّا إِنْ كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ {21:17}

[Q21:17] Law aradnaaa an nattakhiza lahwal lat takhaznaahu mil ladunnaaa in kunnaa faa'ileen. 
[Q21:17] Had We wished to make a diversion, We would have made it from before Ourselves: by no means would We do (it).

[Q21:17] Sekiranya Kami hendak mengambil sesuatu untuk hiburan, tentulah Kami akan mengambilnya dari sisi Kami; Kami tidak melakukannya. 

If at all ALLAH (SWT) had desired anything like a mere sport, the things of real excellence with Him, would have sufficed the purpose and not the lowly creation of the earthly thing.

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(21:17) Had We meant to make it a plaything and nothing more than this, We would have done it by Ourself. *16

*16 That is, "This world has been created with a definite purpose and not as a plaything; for, if he had wanted to enjoy a sport, We would have done so without creating a sentient, rational and responsible creature like you. Far be it from Us to put man to trial and conflict for the sake of mere fun." 

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ {21:18}

[Q21:18] Bal naqzifu bilhaqqi 'alal baatili fa yadmaghuhoo fa izaa huwa zaahiq; wa lakumul wailu mimmaa tasifoon. 
[Q21:18] Nay! We cast the truth against the falsehood, so that it breaks its head, and lo! It vanishes; and woe to you for what you describe;

[Q21:18] Bahkan Kami sentiasa mengarahkan yang benar menentang yang salah, lalu dia menghancurkannya, maka dengan serta-merta hilang lenyaplah ia dan (tetaplah) kecelakaan akan menimpa kamu disebabkan apa yang kamu sifatkan (terhadap Kami).  

 ‘Describe’ refers to the false belief of ALLAH (SWT) having partners (refer verse 21:22) AND [1] ALLAH (SWT) having begotten a son (verse 21:26) [2] or His being daughters (verse 16:57) [3] or any other polytheistic belief about ALLAH (SWT).

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(21:18) But We give falsehood a hard blow with the Truth, which breaks its head and falsehood vanishes away in no time; and there is woe for you because of the falsehoods you invent. *17

*17 That is, "The object for which this world has been created is to stage a conflict between the Truth and falsehood. And you yourselves know that in this conflict falsehood has always been defeated and destroyed: You should, therefore, consider this reality seriously, for, if you build the system of your life on the false presumption that it is mere fun, you will meet with the same consequences as the former people did, who presumed that the world was a mere show and pastime. Therefore you should reconsider your whole attitude towards the Message which has come to you. Instead of making fun of it and scoffing at the Messenger, you should take a warning from the fate of the former peoples." 

وَلَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ {21:19}

[Q21:19] Wa lahoo man fis samaawaati wal ard; wa man 'indahoo laa yastakbiroona 'an 'ibaada tihee wa laa yastahsiroon. 
[Q21:19] And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him, nor do they grow weary.

[Q21:19] Dan (ingatlah) segala yang ada di langit dan di bumi adalah milik kepunyaan ALLAH (SwT) jua dan malaikat-malaikat yang ada di sisiNya tidak membesarkan diri dan tidak enggan daripada beribadat kepadaNya dan tidak pula mereka merasa penat dan letih. 

THOSE CREATED BEINGS WHO ARE NEAR HIM in the high spiritual world willingly and perpetually glorify the majesty of their most high lord.

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(21:19) All that exists in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah: *18 and (the angels) who are near Him *19 disdain not to serve Him, nor do they feel wearied : *20

*18 From here begins the discourse on the confirmation of Tauhid and the refutation of shirk for these were the actual bases of the conflict between the Holy Prophet and the disbelievers of Makkah. The line of argument is this: The whole system of the universe is a clear proof that there is One Allah Who is its Creator, Sovereign, Ruler, and Lord and it is a falsehood that there are many gods who are partners in His Kingdom and Sovereignty, or that there is a Supreme God Who has under Him some minor gods to conduct the affairs of His Kingdom. This proof is also based on the preceding verses in which it has been stated that the universe has not bleu created as a pastime or a plaything, but for a serious purpose and that there has always been a conflict between the Truth and falsehood, and falsehood has always been defeated and destroyed.
*19 That is, the angels whom the mushriks of Arabia believed to be the children of God and worshipped them as partners in Godhead. 
*20 That is, "They are engaged in His service day and night without grumbling or ever feeling wearied."

يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ {21:20}

[Q21:20] Yusabbihoona laila wannahaara laa yafturoon. 
[Q21:20] They glorify (Him) by night and day; they are never languid.

[Q21:20] Mereka beribadat malam dan siang, dengan tidak berhenti-henti.  

(see commentary for verse 19)

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(21:20) they glorify Him night and day without taking rest.

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ هُمْ يُنْشِرُونَ {21:21}

[Q21:21] Amit takhazooo aalihatam minal ardi hum yunshiroon.
[Q21:21] Or have they taken gods from the earth who raise (the dead).

[Q21:21] Adakah benda-benda dari bumi yang mereka jadikan tuhan-tuhan itu, dapat menghidupkan semula sesuatu yang mati?

The different kinds of false gods (idols, local godlings, deified heroes, or forces of nature) whom the polytheists worship can never give life to anything nor raise the dead. NO ONE BUT ALLAH (SWT) CAN RAISE THE DEAD TO LIFE. The miracles of prophet Isa (quickening the dead) was by "ALLAH (SWT)'s leave". It was a miracle of ALLAH (SWT), not one of Isa by his own power or will.

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(21:21) Have the earthly deities they have set up the power to give life and raise the (inanimate) things? *21

*21 This question has been posed to bring home to the disbelievers that when they themselves believed that there is no being other than Allah who can give life to inanimate matter, why do they then acknowledge other deities besides Allah? 

لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ {21:22}

[Q21:22] Law kaana feehimaaa aalihatun illal laahu lafasadataa; fa-Subhaanal laahi Rabbil 'Arshi 'ammaa yasifoon. 
[Q21:22] If there had been in them any gods except ALLAH (SWT), they would both have certainly been in a state of disorder; therefore glory be to ALLAH (SWT), the Lord of the dominion, above what they attribute (to Him).

[Q21:22] Kalau ada di langit dan di bumi tuhan-tuhan yang lain dari ALLAH (SwT), nescaya rosaklah pentadbiran kedua-duanya. Maka (bertauhidlah kamu kepada ALLAH (SwT) dengan menegaskan): Maha Suci ALLAH (SwT), Tuhan yang mempunyai Arasy, dari apa yang mereka sifatkan.

This verse is a manifest proof of the unity of ALLAH (SWT). The integration, uniformity and harmony found in the operation of the universe since its creation positively prove the existence of a single, omnipotent, independent and all-wise authority which is governing its operation through the laws made and enforced by Him. He is ALLAH (SWT). Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:255 and Ali Imran 3:2.

THIS IS THE SIMPLEST AND THE GREATEST AND THE SELF-PROVED ARGUMENT ABOUT THE UNITY OF ALLAH (SWT). The unity and the perfect harmony with which the universe is going on since its birth, itself is the proof positive that there is only One single authority which is governing the working of the universe with the laws regulated in the perfect harmony with each other.

IF THERE BE two or more beings holding equal authorities over the ownership OR the working of the universe, the dual OR the multiple personalities of the authority will be meaningless and unnecessary for when they work together with absolutely identical OR the same qualities and without any difference among them, then they will be one and the same, their multiplicity would be a mere imagination for namesake. And if there be a chief god and the others his subordinates, these subordinates would never be gods.

v  When asked the Sixth Holy Imam Ja’afar ibne Muhammad As-Saqiq about the Unity of ALLAH (SWT), he said:

“The perfect unity and the harmony you see in the working of the Universe.”

Here the consistency and the harmonious continuity of the Terrestrial and the Celestial systems are presented as the proof positive of the Unity of the Active Factor and the Authority dominating them.

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(21:22) Had there been other deities besides Allah in the heavens and the earth, both (the heavens and the earth) would have gone out of order. *22 So, absolutely free is Allah, Lord of the Throne, *23 from the false things they ascribe to Him.

*22 This concise sentence contains two arguments: 
(1) The obviously simple argument is that no institution, no household, not to speak of the vast universe containing multitudes of countless distant stars, can function smoothly and properly, if it has two masters.
(2) The deeper argument is that the system of the whole universe, including that of the earth, is functioning according to a universal law. It could not work so even for a moment, if there had been no proper proportion, balance, harmony and coordination between the different powers and countless things. This is a clear proof that there is a universal and all-powerful law and system which binds and forces these powers and things tc co-operate and coordinate between themselves with a perfect proportion and harmony and this could not have happened if there had been different independent rulers. The existence of such a system is itself a clear proof that there must be One All-Powerful Manager and Administrator governing and ruling the whole universe. For further details, please see E. N. 47 of Bani Isra'il (XVII). 
*23 That is, "The Sovereign of the whole universe." 

لَا يُسْأَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْأَلُونَ {21:23}

[Q21:23] Laa yus'alu 'ammaa yaf'alu wa hum yus'aloon. 
[Q21:23] He cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they shall be questioned.

[Q21:23] Dia tidak boleh ditanya tentang apa yang Dia lakukan, sedang merekalah yang akan ditanya kelak.

ALLAH (SWT) IS SELF-SUBSISTING. ALL HIS CREATURES ARE RESPONSIBLE TO HIM AND DEPENDENT ON HIM. There is no other being to whom He can be responsible or on whom He can be dependent.

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(21:23) He is accountable to none for what He does, but all others are accountable (to Him).

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ ۖ هَٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَنْ مَعِيَ وَذِكْرُ مَنْ قَبْلِي ۗ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ ۖ فَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ {24}

[Q21:24] Amit takhazoo min doonihee aalihatan qul haatoo burhaanakum haaza zikru mam ma'iya wa zikru man qablee; bal aksaruhum laa ya'lamoonal haqqa fahum mu'ridoon.  
[Q21:24] Or, have they taken gods besides Him? Say: Bring your proof; this is the reminder of those with me and the reminder of those before me. Nay! Most of them do not know the truth, so they turn aside.

[Q21:24] Patutkah mereka menyembah tuhan-tuhan yang lain dari ALLAH (SwT)? Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): Bawalah keterangan dan bukti kamu; kandungan Al-Quran ini menjadi peringatan dan bukti tauhid umatku, juga peringatan dan bukti tauhid umat-umat yang dahulu daripadaku. (Kaum musyrik tidak mempunyai sebarang keterangan) bahkan kebanyakan mereka tidak mengetahui mana yang benar dan mana yang salah, dengan sebab itulah maka mereka berpaling ingkar. 

THE QUR’AN PROVES THE UNITY IN THE DIVERSITY OF CREATION AND THE UNITY IN GODHEAD. This is the message of Islam ("those with me"), and this was the message of all prophets who came before the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) ("those before me"), and the line of prophets was closed with the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). The message given to every people in all ages by the prophets of ALLAH (SWT) was that of unity of ALLAH (SWT) as the fundamental basis of order and design (material, moral and spiritual) in the universe. When the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) was sent in this world, taught by ALLAH (SWT) Himself and endowed with divine wisdom, there was paganism and heathenism all around him. The Jews and the Christians who were worshipping their prophets as sons of ALLAH (SWT) were not in a position to proclaim the unity of ALLAH (SWT) although in their scriptures the truth was present in clear words. IT WAS THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) WHO ESTABLISHED THE TRUTH AND DESTROYED THE BELIEF IN FALSE ALLAH (SWT)S AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ALLAH (SWT) FOR EVER.

OLD TESTAMENT:

"You have had sure proof that the Lord is ALLAH (SWT); there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:35)

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our ALLAH (SWT), one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4)

"There is none so holy as the Lord, there is none save Thee." (I Samuel 2:2)

"I am the Lord, there is no other; there is no ALLAH (SWT) beside Me." (Isaiah 45:5)

NEW TESTAMENT:

"Well then, about eating this consecrated food: of course, as you say, 'a false ALLAH (SWT) has no existence in the real world. There is no ALLAH (SWT) but one.'" "Yet for us there is one ALLAH (SWT), the Father." (I Corinthians 8:4 and 6)

"One ALLAH (SWT) and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:6)

"For there is one ALLAH (SWT), and also one mediator between ALLAH (SWT) and men, Christ Jesus, himself man." (I Timothy 2:5)

"You have faith enough to believe that there is one ALLAH (SWT)." (James 2:19)

GITA:

"I am the Father of this universe, the mother, the supporter, the grandsire. I am the holy "One" to be known" (2:7)

"I am the Soul O Arjuna, seated in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all things"

"Why should they not bow down to you O mighty One who is the creator of them all, the primal cause even of Brahma; O infinite being, Lord of ALLAH (SWT)s, above the world, you are imperishable." (11:37)

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(21:24) Have they discarded Him and set up other deities? Say to them, O Muhammad, "Bring your authority; here is this Book, which contains Admonition for the people of my time, and there are also those Books which contained Admonition for the former people." *24 But most of these people have no knowledge of the Reality; therefore they have turned away from it. *25

*24 The first two were rational arguments and this is a historical one. This means that the study of all the former Scriptures shows that the Creator of the universe is One Allah and He alone is worthy of service and worship, while "Your religion is neither supported by rational arguments nor by historical evidence." 
*25 It is their lack of the knowledge of the Reality which has created this indifference towards the Message of the Prophet, and the same has made them heedless of the Message.' 

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ {21:25}

[Q21:25] Wa maaa arsalnaa min qablika mir Rasoolin illaa nooheee ilaihi annahoo laaa ilaaha illaaa Ana fa'budoun. 
[Q21:25] And We did not send before you any messenger but We revealed to him that there is no ALLAH (SWT) but Me, therefore serve Me.

[Q21:25] Dan Kami tidak mengutus sebelummu (wahai Muhammad) seseorang Rasul pun melainkan Kami wahyukan kepadanya: Bahawa sesungguhnya tiada Tuhan (yang berhak disembah) melainkan Aku, oleh itu beribadatlah kamu kepadaKu. 

(see commentary for verse 24)

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(21:25) The fact is that to every Messenger whom We sent down before you, We revealed this same thing: "There is no other deity than Me: so worship Me alone."

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُكْرَمُونَ {21:26}

[Q21:26] Wa qaalut takhazar Rahmaanu waladan Subhaanah; bal 'ibaadum mkkramoon. 
[Q21:26] And they say: The Beneficent ALLAH (SWT) has taken to Himself a son. Glory be to Him. Nay! They are honored servants.

[Q21:26] Dan mereka (yang musyrik) berkata: (ALLAH (SwT)) Ar-Rahman mempunyai anak. Maha Sucilah Ia. Bahkan (mereka yang dikatakan menjadi anak ALLAH (SwT) itu) ialah hamba-hambaNya yang dimuliakan. 

Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:255, Ali Imran 3:2 and 6 Nahl 16:57.

In this verse walad has been used as a gerund, not as a noun-They say: "Arrahman has taken to begetting." The reference is to the belief of the pagans that angels, priests and kings were the sons and daughters of ALLAH (SWT).

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(21:26) They say, "The Merciful has offspring." *26 Glory be to Allah! They are His mere servants who have been honoured:

*26 "Offspring" here refers to the angels as is clear from v. 28. The disbelievers of Arabia believed that the angels were the daughters of God.

لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ {21:27}

[Q21:27] Laa yasbiqoonahoo bil qawli wa hum bi amrihee ya'maloon. 
[Q21:27] They do not precede Him in speech and (only) according to His commandment do they act.

[Q21:27] Mereka tidak mendahuluiNya dengan perkataan dan mereka pula mengerjakan apa yang diperintahkanNya. 

THE PROPHETS OF ALLAH (SWT) WERE HIS SERVANTS RAISED TO HONOUR. THEY NEITHER SPOKE NOR ACTED, AT ANY TIME, OF THEIR OWN WILL. THEY SAID AND ACTED (IN ALL THINGS) BY ALLAH (SWT)'S COMMAND. THIS VERSE PROVES THAT ALL THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS OF ALLAH (SWT) WERE INFALLIBLE BECAUSE WHATEVER THEY SAID OR DID WAS IN FACT ALLAH (SWT)'S WORD OR ACTION.

Ø  Isa said:

"I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has Himself commanded me what to say and how to speak" (John 12:49)

According to verse 2:136 of al Baqarah, Islam respects, honours and reveres all the prophets of ALLAH (SWT).

This is one of the unique characteristic of the Holy Qur’an as the Final Word of ALLAH (SWT) and the clear testimony of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) being the True Apostle and Islam being ALLAH (SWT)’s prescribed religion for man, that it advocates equal respect and reverence to one and all the apostles of ALLAH (SWT) (verse 2:136).

“Say (O’ Muslims): We believe in ALLAH (SWT) and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered,”

Never before has any religion leader or any scripture spoken of any such thing about the other apostles and the other holy books.

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(21:27) they do not exceed the limits in their talk before Him and just do His bidding.

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُمْ مِنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ {21:28}

[Q21:28] Ya'lamu maa baina aideehim wa maa khalfahum wa laa yashfa'oona illaa limanir tadaa wa hum min khash yatihee mushfiqoon. 
[Q21:28] He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede except for him whom He approves and for fear of Him they tremble.

[Q21:28] ALLAH (SwT) mengetahui apa yang di hadapan mereka (yang telah mereka lakukan) dan apa yang di belakang mereka (yang akan mereka lakukan) dan mereka tidak memohon syafaat melainkan bagi sesiapa yang diredai ALLAH (SwT) dan mereka pula sentiasa cemas takut daripada ditimpa azabNya.

For intercession refer to the commentary of al Baqarah 2:48.

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(21:28) He knows whatever is before them and also whatever is hidden from them; they "do not intercede for anyone except for the one for whom Allah pleases to hear a plea, and they live in awe of Him *27

*27 These two verses refute the two reasons for which the mushriks had made the angels their deities:
(1) They took them for the offspring of Allah. 
(2) They thought that if they worshipped the angels, they would be so pleased that they would intercede with Allah on their behalf. (See X:18; XXXIX:3).
In this connection, it should also be noted that the Qur'an refutes the doctrine of intercession of the mushriks, saying, that their so-called intercessors are not qualified to intercede for anyone. This is so' because they have no knowledge of the hidden things, whereas Allah knows all that is hidden from or open to them. Therefore, the angels or Prophets or saints shall be allowed intercession only with the prior permission of Allah. As Allah alone has the power to hear or accept intercession, none else is entitled to divine worship or rights. For further details, please sec Ta Ha (XX): E. N.'s 85-86. 

وَمَنْ يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّي إِلَٰهٌ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ {21:29}

[Q21:29] Wa mai yaqul minhum inneee ilaahum min doonihee fazaalika najzeehi Jahannam; kazaalika najziz zaalimeen. 
[Q21:29] And whoever of them should say: Surely I am a god besides Him, such a one do We recompense with hell; thus do, We recompense the unjust.

[Q21:29] Dan (jika ada) sesiapa di antara mereka berkata: Sesungguhnya aku ialah tuhan selain dari ALLAH (SwT), maka yang berkata sedemikian itu, Kami akan membalasnya dengan (azab) Neraka Jahannam; demikianlah Kami membalas golongan yang zalim.

This verse refers to those priests and kings who claimed godhead and divinity.

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(21:29) And if anyone of them were to say, "I am also a deity besides Allah", We would send him to Hell, for this is the recompense from Us for such workers of iniquity.

SECTION 3

Every soul shall taste Death

The Omnipotence of God proved from the Creation – Every soul shall taste Death – Everyone tested with Good and Bad – The disbelievers who ridiculed the Apostle shall themselves be punished to be ridiculed in return.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {21:30}

[Q21:30] Awalam yaral lazeena kafarooo annas samaawaati wal arda kaanataa ratqan faftaqnaahumaa wa ja'alnaa minal maaa'i kulla shai'in haiyin afalaa yu'minoon. 
[Q21:30] Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, but We have opened them; and We have made of water everything living, will they not then believe?

[Q21:30] Dan tidakkah orang-orang kafir itu memikirkan dan mempercayai bahawa sesungguhnya langit dan bumi itu pada asal mulanya bercantum (sebagai benda yang satu), lalu Kami pisahkan antara keduanya? Dan Kami jadikan dari air, tiap-tiap benda yang hidup? Maka mengapa mereka tidak mahu beriman?

Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:

Ratqan does not mean that the heavens and the earth were joined together or formed an integrated mass. They were closed up in a sense that there was no rain-water coming from the sky on the earth, therefore plants and vegetation did not grow on the surface of the earth.

When ALLAH (SWT) created life on the earth, He sent down from the sky rain-water which is the ultimate support, direct or indirect, of all life on the earth.

All life began in the water is also a conclusion to which the latest knowledge in biological science points. Protoplasm, the original basis of living matter and the physical basis of life, is almost an aqueous substance-water is the most abundant single component of protoplasm.

From this verse Qur’an begins to point out the difference between the process of creation wherein the Creator is not a part and the process of generation wherein the origin is a part of the process.

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(21:30) Have not the people, who have disbelieved (the Message), ever considered this: the heavens and the earth were at first one mass; then We parted them, *28 and created every living thing from water? *29 Do they not acknowledge (that this is Our Creation)?

*28 From the wording of the Text, it appears that at first the whole universe was a single mass of matter; then it was split into different parts and the earth and the other heavenly bodies were formed. For fuller details, please see Ha Mim (XLI):E.N.'s 13-15
*29 From the wording of the Text, it appears that Allah made water the cause and origin of life. See also An-Nur (XXIV): 45.