Genesis of idolatry is almost as old as a few generations after Adam عليه السلام who laid the foundation of Tawḥīd (pure monotheism) and his descendants worshiped Allah alone. But man did not want to identify an invisible God as his direction of worship and initially made statues of their righteous or the pious to honour them. AS per Al Qur'an, it was the time of Prophet Nūḥ (Noah, عليه السلام) when this practice went underway.
“And they said, ‘Never leave your gods: Wadd, nor Suwāʿ, nor Yaghūth, Yaʿūq and Nasr.’” (Qur’an 71:23).
"Wadd, nor Suwāʿ, nor Yaghūth, Yaʿūq and Nasr" were originally pious men, but later turned into idols. And from then on, there was no ending. Idolatry thrived since then and continues unabated in many cultures of the world even today.
Why Do People Go Towards Idolatry?
Before we share the verses 74-75 from Sürah 36. Yā-Sīn, let us briefly have a run down on why do people go towards idolatry. Some of the reasons are mentioned herein under:
- Emotional Attachment
- People loved saints, heroes, or ancestors and wanted to keep their memory alive.
- This love slowly turned into veneration → then worship.
- Desire for “Tangible” God
- Since Allah is unseen, some feel comfort in visible objects (statues, symbols) to focus devotion.
- Qur’an mentions: “They worship besides Allah things that neither harm them nor benefit them.” (10:18).
- Intermediaries (Shirk in worship)
- People thought idols could bring them closer to God.
- Qur’an: “We only worship them so they may bring us nearer to Allah.” (39:3).
- Cultural & Social Influence: Idolatry often spreads because it becomes part of traditions, festivals, and identity.
- Whispering of Shayṭān (Satan)
- Idolatry is one of the greatest tricks of Shayṭān.
- Qur’an: “He (Satan) said: I will mislead them, and arouse in them false desires, and order them so they slit the ears of cattle and change the creation of Allah.” (4:119).
With this a very brief on the history and reasons for adopting idolatry, we turn to the verse 74-75th from Sürah 36. Yā-Sīn which gives a Divine warning to the idolaters asking them to stay away from pieces of stone made by their own hands who can do nothing to protect them from any calamity and will not come to help them in any way when they will be presented before the only Deity, God Almighty,
The Verses:
74. وَاتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
“Yet they have taken gods besides Allah, hoping that they might be helped.”
75.
لَّا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌۭ مُّحْضَرُونَ
“But they cannot help them; rather, they themselves will be brought forth as troops against them (on the Day of Judgment).”
Context
These verses occur in a passage where Allah exposes the futility of idol-worship. The Quraysh and other polytheists had taken idols, saints, or false deities thinking they would protect them, intercede for them, or bring them closer to God (see also 39:3).
"Unquestionably, [exclusive] devotion is to Allah. And those who take other protectors besides Him [say], "We do not worship them except to bring us closer to Allah." Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a liar and a [confirmed] disbeliever."
In these two verses, Allah reminds them:
- The false gods have no power to help.
- On the Day of Judgment, these very idols or entities will actually turn against those who worshipped them.
Detailed Explanation
- Verse 74
- The irony is highlighted: people worship things “besides Allah” in the hope of gaining protection, success, or victory. This reflects misplaced trust.
- Example: The Quraysh thought their idols around the Ka‘bah could protect them.
- Modern parallel: People sometimes put absolute reliance on wealth, status, or systems — treating them as “saviors.”
- Verse 75: Allah exposes the reality:
- The false gods cannot help their worshippers.
- On the Day of Judgment, those very beings will testify against their worshippers (see 10:28, 25:17).
- “Troops against them” means: the worshippers and their false gods will be gathered together as opposing sides, and the idols will disown their worshippers (see 2:166–167).
Cross-References from Qur’an
- 10:18: “They worship besides Allah that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say: These are our intercessors with Allah…”
- 29:25: “…These idols you worship instead of Allah are only a means of love between you in worldly life; then on the Day of Judgment you will deny one another and curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire.”
- 25:17–18: Allah will question the false gods, and they will say: “Glory be to You! It was not for us to take them as protectors…”
The story of Prophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham, عليه السلام)
It would be very pertinent to mention the the story of Prophet Ibrāhīm (Abraham, عليه السلام) whose destroying the idols is one of the most powerful demonstrations against idolatry in the Qur’an.
The Qur’anic Episode of Ibrāhīm challenging idol-worship is mentioned in (Surah al-Anbiyāʾ 21:51–70)
- He reasoned with his people: “What are these statues to which you are devoted?” (21:52). To which they replied that their forefathers worshiped them. He said: “Indeed, you and your forefathers have been in manifest error.” (21:54).
- The Idol-Smashing Event When his people left for a festival, Ibrāhīm entered their temple and smashed all the smaller idols but left the biggest idol intact. (Qur’an: “So he broke them into pieces, except the largest of them, that they might return to it.” (21:58)).
- When they returned, they were furious: “Who has done this to our gods? He is certainly one of the wrongdoers.” (21:59). They suspected Ibrāhīm, since he had spoken against idols. To this was Ibrāhīm’s Brilliant Response: “Rather, this—the biggest of them—did it. So ask them, if they can speak.” (21:63).
- His point was clear: if these idols were truly gods, why didn’t they protect themselves? And they wise did realise the truth: Qur’an: “So they returned to their (own minds) and said, ‘Indeed, you are the wrongdoers.’” (21:64). But arrogance blinded them, and they still demanded punishment for Ibrāhīm.
- To punish Ibrāhīm, there was an attempt to burn him alive. They said: “Burn him and support your gods, if you will act.” (21:68). However, Allah protected him: “We said: O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham.” (21:69).
This episode clearly shows that idols at their own are just stone carved images and shapes who cannot even move an inch on their own. Yet people still worship them, hoping their lives to be reformed. But they forget that it is Allah alone, and no one else no matter how pious or prophetic can help them.
Lessons for Today
- Misplaced reliance is dangerous Relying on material wealth, power, or human connections as if they are ultimate protectors is like idol-worship. Only Allah is the true Guardian.
- False intercessors are powerless Nothing — saints, leaders, wealth, ideologies — can stand before Allah unless He wills. Worship and trust must be placed only in Him.
- Accountability On the Day of Judgment, anything worshipped besides Allah will turn into a witness against its worshippers.
Related posts already published on Shirk - The act of equating anyone with One True God
In short: Verses 74–75 of Surah Yā Sīn remind us that only Allah deserves reliance and worship. Any “god” — whether idol, person, or worldly attachment — will ultimately betray those who trust in it.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 36. Yā-Sīn already published.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
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