Transliteration:( Zaalikum bi annahooo izaa du'iyal laahu wahdahoo kafartum wa iny yushrak bihee tu'minoo; falhukmu lillaahil 'Aliyyil Kabeer )
"That is because when Allah alone was called upon as the One, you disbelieved [32]. But, when partners were associated with Him, you believed [33]. Therefore, now the Command [34] is only for Allah, Who is the Highest, the Greatest."
This verse identifies the core reason for the punishment of the disbelievers: their rejection of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah). They turned away from the invitation to believe in One Allah, and instead followed the misleading words of their infidel leaders.
In rejecting the call of the Prophets, they abandoned all aspects of true faith—including the worship of Allah, acceptance of His Oneness, and obedience to His Messenger. Their failure to respond to this divine call led to their eternal abode in Hell.
The verse contrasts their rejection of pure monotheism with their acceptance of polytheistic beliefs. When others were associated with Allah, they were willing to accept and follow those practices.
This teaches us that even acts like du‘a (supplication) are a form of worship. Calling upon anyone other than Allah as a deity is polytheism. However, calling upon the pious with belief in Allah’s ultimate power is not shirk.
An example is given from Salah, where the believer sends salutations to the Prophet ﷺ by saying: "Assalamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabi" — “Peace be upon you, O Prophet.” This shows that invoking blessings or greeting the Prophet ﷺ in the context of obedience is not polytheism, but reverence under divine law.
This part of the verse emphasizes that the final decision, authority, and command rest with Allah alone. On the Day of Judgment, all kingship will belong to Him, and the worldly powers of rulers will vanish.
Even the Prophets, in this world, governed only by Allah’s command, acting as messengers of His Shari’ah. Likewise, some awliya (saints) reflect divine attributes in their miracles or supplications being accepted—but all of it operates solely through the power and permission of Allah.
This verse confirms the absolute and unmatched authority of Allah, who is Al-‘Aliyy (the Highest) and Al-Kabeer (the Greatest).
The tafsir of Surah Muminun verse 12 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Muminun ayat 10 which provides the complete commentary from verse 10 through 14.
(40:12) (They will be told): “(The cause of your present state is that) when Allah alone was invoked, you disbelieved; and when others instead of Him were invoked, you believed. Today all judgement lies with Allah, the Most High, the All-Great.”[18]
18. That is, the Judgment now rests entirely with that God alone, Whose Godhead you did not acknowledge, and those others whom you persistently regarded as associates and partners in the powers of Godhead, have no share whatsoever in the judgment. For a full understanding of this point, please see (Surah Az-Zumar, ayat 45) note 64. This sentence by itself gives the meaning that there would be no possibility of any way out for the disbelievers from the state of torment, for they did not only deny the Hereafter but they had aversion to their Creator and Sustainer, and they were not satisfied until they had associated others with Him.
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