wala-in sa-altahum man khalaqa l-samāwāti wal-arḍa layaqūlunna l-lahu qul afara-aytum mā tadʿūna min dūni l-lahi in arādaniya l-lahu biḍurrin hal hunna kāshifātu ḍurrihi aw arādanī biraḥmatin hal hunna mum'sikātu raḥmatihi qul ḥasbiya l-lahu ʿalayhi yatawakkalu l-mutawakilūna
Translation
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered1351 what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
Verse 38 of Surah Az-Zumar (39:38), a Meccan surah, is in juz 24, on page 462 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 38 of Surah Az-Zumar
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Tafsir of verse 38
Al-Mukhtasar
O Messenger! If you ask these idolaters, “Who created the heavens and who created the earth?” they will say, “Allah created them.” Say to them, to show them the inability of their gods: Tell me about these idols that you worship besides Allah. If Allah willed to harm me, do they have the power to remove that harm from me? Or if my Lord wished to grant me mercy from Him, are they able to stop His mercy from me? Say to them: Allah alone is enough for me. It is on Him that I rely in all my affairs. it is on Him alone those who want to place their reliance entrust their affairs to.
If you ask them who created the heavens and earth, they will surely say, “Allah.” Say, “Then tell me about those whom you supplicate besides Allah; if Allah wills to harm me, can they remove His harm? Or if He wills mercy for me, can they withhold His mercy?” Say, “Allah is sufficient for me; in Him alone do the reliant put their trust.”
And verily, if you ask them: "Who created the heavens and the earth?" Surely they will say: "Allâh (has created them)." Say: "Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allâh - if Allâh intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allâh) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?" Say: "Sufficient for me is Allâh; in Him those who trust (i.e. believers) must put their trust.7"
Notes
[7] (V.39:38) See the footnote of (V.12:67).
And verily, if thou shouldst ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth? they will say: Allah. Say: Bethink you then of those ye worship beside Allah, if Allah willed some hurt for me, could they remove from me His hurt; or if He willed some mercy for me, could they restrain His mercy? Say: Allah is my all. In Him do (all) the trusting put their trust.
If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the earth, they would be sure to say, "Allah". Say: "See ye then? the things that ye invoke besides Allah,- can they, if Allah wills some Penalty for me, remove His Penalty?- Or if He wills some Grace for me, can they keep back his Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is Allah for me! In Him trust those who put their trust."
And should you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? They would most certainly say: Allah. Say: Have you then considered that what you call upon besides Allah, would they, if Allah desire to afflict me with harm, be the removers of His harm, or (would they), if Allah desire to show me mercy, be the withholders of His mercy? Say: Allah is sufficient for me; on Him do the reliant rely.
And indeed in case you ask them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" indeed they will definitely say Allah." Say, (This is addressed to the Ptopet) "Have you seen then the ones you invoke apart from Allah. In case Allah ever wills some adversity for me, will they lift off His adversity? Or (in case) He wills (some) mercy for me, will they hold back His mercy?" Say, (This is addressed to the Ptophet) " Allah is enough (Reckoner) for me; on Him do (all) the trusting ones put their trust."
We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil [i.e., insanity]." He said, "Indeed, I call Allāh to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allāh …
Verses with similar wording
They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.
And if you should ask them, "Who has created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing,"
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh"; but most of them do not know.
Indeed, those you [polytheists] call upon besides Allāh are servants [i.e., creations] like you. So call upon them and let them respond to you, if you should be truthful.
And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allāh and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy [i.e., disappointed]."
Or do they say [about the Prophet (ﷺ)], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a sūrah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
