Az-Zukhruf (Ornaments of gold)

45. And ask those of Our Messengers [through their followers or by consulting their Books] whom We sent before you: “Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious [Allah]?”

Divine Unity is a dogmatic principle shared by all religions and the Noble Prophet of the Islamic faith (S) pursues the Call of his predecessors:

(“And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you”).

To reject idolatry and polytheist beliefs, the blessed Verse in question says:

“Inquire of the messengers sent before you whether we asked them to worship gods other than the Most Gracious Allah.”

The Verse is a reference to the messengers of God who called people to believe in Divine Unity and they decisively condemned polytheism en masse.

Therefore, the opposition of the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) against idolatry was not unprecedented, but he solely revived his predecessors’ long standing tradition; however, idolaters and polytheists proceed against the Path beaconed by all prophets.

According to the present exegesis it is the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) who was inquired about his predecessors, but all communities and even his opponents are asked the same question.

Those inquired include the followers of earlier prophets, their true and trustworthy adherents, or even laity among them, since their words lead to a unanimous assertion (khabar mutawatir) bearing testimony to the prophets’ belief in Divine Unity.

It is to be noted that even those deviating from the dogma of Divine Unity, e.g. Christians of modern times believing in trinity, still discuss the question of Divine Unity saying that their trinity is not inconsistent with Divine Unity as a dogmatic principle shared by all prophets! Thus, inquiring from these peoples will suffice to negate polytheist claims.

Yet, some exegets also maintain that another possibility exists as to the interpretation of the Verse in question based on a number of traditions.¹

It is also worthy of note that from among the Beautiful Divine Names,

“the Most Gracious” (Rahman)

receives emphasis in the Verse which makes references to the all inclusiveness of Divine Mercy and the fact that some people worship idols who engender neither gain nor loss.