[2895] Amidst all these evidences against them, here is most clearly where the Qurayshite idolaters’ misconceptions about ‘Allah’ is set aright.
[2896] “They worship besides Allah that which neither harms nor benefits them and say: “These are our intercessors with Allah!” Say ˹Muhammad˺: “Are you informing Allah of that which He knows not neither in the Heavens nor in Earth? Glorified and exalted is He above all they Associate ˹with Him˺!” (10: 18).
[2897] Those who are being contrasted here are the Deniers who are ‘blind’ to the Truth and the Believers who can see it plainly for what it is (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[2898] The expression al-ẓulumāt wa al-nūr (lit. darknesses and light) is quite recurrent throughout the Qur’an. ‘Darkness’ is invariably always found in the plural form (ẓulumāt) whilst ‘light’ is conversely always in the singular (al-nūr). Here they could mean both tangible and abstract darkness and light; ignorance, Association and sin as opposed to knowledge, Belief and obedience (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī).
[2899] There is no excuse for their Association to be found anywhere (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr). Their so-called ‘gods’ could not answer their prayers or do them good or harm, let alone perform such a great act as that of creation; utter darkness indeed is what they languish in: “O mankind! A parable is set forth, so hearken to it! Truly those upon whom you call apart from Allah will never create a fly, even if they gathered together to do so. And if the fly should rob them of aught, they could not rescue it from it; feeble are the seeker and the sought” (22: 73).