Surah Al-Anbya, Ayah 24
Quran 21:24 · The Prophets · Makki · Para 17 · Page 323
اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِهٖۤ اٰلِهَةً ؕ قُلْ هَاتُوْا بُرْهَانَكُمْ ۚ هٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَنْ مَّعِیَ وَذِكْرُ مَنْ قَبْلِیْ ؕ بَلْ اَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْنَ ۙ الْحَقَّ فَهُمْ مُّعْرِضُوْنَ ۟
Transliteration
Ami ittakhathoo min doonihi alihatanqul hatoo burhanakum hatha thikru manmaAAiya wathikru man qablee bal aktharuhum layaAAlamoona alhaqqa fahum muAAridoon
Saheeh International
Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur’ān] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
But they took other gods besides Allah. Say, O Messenger, to these idolaters: “Bring your proof for their being worthy of worship. This book which has been revealed to me and the books revealed upon the messengers contain no proof for you”. But rather most of the idolaters only take support from ignorance and blind following, so they turn away from accepting the truth.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) on 21:24–21:25
Or have they taken for worship gods besides Him Say: "Bring your proof. This is the Reminder for those with me and the Reminder for those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, so they are averse (24)And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "There is no God but I, so worship Me. (25)
أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ قُلْ
(Or have they taken for worship gods besides Him? Say:) – O Muhammad –
هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ
(Bring your proof.) your evidence for what you are saying.
هَٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِيَ
(This is the Reminder for those with me) means, the Qur'an.
وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِي
(and the Reminder for those before me) means, the previous Books, unlike what you claim. Each Book was revealed to each Prophet who was sent with the message that there is no god except Allah, but you idolators do not recognize the truth, so you turn away from it. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ
(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "There is no god but I...") This is like the Ayat:
وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ
(And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious?")(43:45)
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah, and avoid Taghut (all false deities).")(16:36)
Every Prophet who was sent by Allah called people to worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. The natural inclination of man (Al-Fitrah) also bears witness to that. The idolators have no proof and their dispute is of no use before their Lord; on them is wrath, and for them will be a severe torment.