Quran Universe
21:24

أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةٗۖ قُلۡ هَاتُواْ بُرۡهَٰنَكُمۡۖ هَٰذَا ذِكۡرُ مَن مَّعِيَ وَذِكۡرُ مَن قَبۡلِيۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡحَقَّۖ فَهُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ

Ami ittakhathoo min doonihi alihatan qul hatoo burhanakum hatha thikru man maAAiya wathikru man qablee bal aktharuhum la yaAAlamoona alhaqqa fahum muAAridoona

Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muhammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur'an] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.

Word by word
  1. أَمِOr
  2. ٱتَّخَذُواْ(have) they taken
  3. مِنbesides Him
  4. دُونِهِۦٓbesides Him
  5. ءَالِهَةٗۖgods
  6. قُلۡSay
  7. هَاتُواْBring
  8. بُرۡهَٰنَكُمۡۖyour proof
  9. هَٰذَاThis
  10. ذِكۡرُ(is) a Reminder
  11. مَن(for those) who
  12. مَّعِيَ(are) with me
  13. وَذِكۡرُand a Reminder
  14. مَن(for those) who
  15. قَبۡلِيۚ(were) before me
  16. بَلۡBut
  17. أَكۡثَرُهُمۡmost of them
  18. لَا(do) not
  19. يَعۡلَمُونَknow
  20. ٱلۡحَقَّۖthe truth
  21. فَهُمso they
  22. مُّعۡرِضُونَ(are) averse
Al-Anbya · 21:24Makkah

Bring your proof. Every message before said the same.

Belief in one God is backed by every earlier Book

The challenge
other godstaken besides Him
show
your proof
the Remindernow and before
What their stance rests on
traditionit's what we do
evidenceevery Book agrees

The Prophet ﷺ is told to say: bring your proof. This Quran is the Reminder for those with him, and the earlier Books were the Reminder for those before. The tafsir says each was sent with no god except Allah, but most did not know the truth, so they turned away.

You hold a belief because your family always has, or because everyone online repeats it. Ask yourself what your proof is. Faith that has looked at the evidence stands firmer.

I believe it because that is how I was raised.

Belief is stronger when I know why. Truth is not afraid of being asked for proof.

Try this

Choose one thing you believe and find one reason for it from the Quran.

Related43:4516:36
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Or have they taken for worship gods besides Him Say: "Bring your proof. This is the Reminder for those with me and the Reminder for those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, so they are averse (24)And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "There is no God but I, so worship Me. (25)

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ قُلْ

(Or have they taken for worship gods besides Him? Say:) – O Muhammad –

هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ

(Bring your proof.) your evidence for what you are saying.

هَٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِيَ

(This is the Reminder for those with me) means, the Qur'an.

وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِي

(and the Reminder for those before me) means, the previous Books, unlike what you claim. Each Book was revealed to each Prophet who was sent with the message that there is no god except Allah, but you idolators do not recognize the truth, so you turn away from it. Allah says:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ

(And We did not send any Messenger before you but We revealed to him (saying): "There is no god but I...") This is like the Ayat:

وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ

(And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: "Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Gracious?")(43:45)

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ

(And verily, We have sent among every Ummah a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah, and avoid Taghut (all false deities).")(16:36)

Every Prophet who was sent by Allah called people to worship Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. The natural inclination of man (Al-Fitrah) also bears witness to that. The idolators have no proof and their dispute is of no use before their Lord; on them is wrath, and for them will be a severe torment.