Surah Al Ankabut Tafseer

إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا

You worship besides Allah only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allah have no power to give you provision,

Allah states that the idols which they worshipped were not able to do any harm or any good, and tells them, "You made up names for them and called them gods, but they are created beings just like you."

This interpretation was reported by Al-`Awfi from Ibn Abbas.

It was also the view of Mujahid and As-Suddi.

Al-Walibi reported from Ibn Abbas:

"You invent falsehood, means, you carve idols," which do not have the power to provide for you.

فَابْتَغُوا عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ

so seek from Allah your provision,

This emphasizes the idea of asking Allah Alone.

This is like the Ayat:

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help. (1:5)

And His saying:

رَبِّ ابْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتاً فِى الْجَنَّةِ

My Lord! Build for me, with You, a home in Paradise. (66:11)

Allah says here:

فَابْتَغُوا

(so seek) meaning, ask for

عِندَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ

(from Allah your provision),

meaning, do not seek it from anyone or anything other than Him, for no one else possesses the power to do anything.

وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ

and worship Him, and be grateful to Him.

Eat from what He has provided and worship Him Alone, and give thanks to Him for the blessings He has given you.

إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

To Him you will be brought back.

means, on the Day of Resurrection, when He will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.

His saying