Quran Universe
18:51

۞مَّآ أَشۡهَدتُّهُمۡ خَلۡقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا خَلۡقَ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ ٱلۡمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدٗا

Ma ashhadtuhum khalqa alssamawati waalardi wala khalqa anfusihim wama kuntu muttakhitha almudilleena AAadudan

I did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves, and I would not have taken the misguiders as assistants.

Word by word
  1. ۞مَّآNot
  2. أَشۡهَدتُّهُمۡI made them witness
  3. خَلۡقَthe creation
  4. ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ(of) the heavens
  5. وَٱلۡأَرۡضِand the earth
  6. وَلَاand not
  7. خَلۡقَthe creation
  8. أَنفُسِهِمۡ(of) themselves
  9. وَمَاand not
  10. كُنتُI Am
  11. مُتَّخِذَthe One to take
  12. ٱلۡمُضِلِّينَthe misleaders
  13. عَضُدٗا(as) helper (s)
Al-Kahf · 18:51Makkah

They were not there when the heavens were made.

Why created things cannot be your helpers

What they witnessed
the misguidersyou take as helpers
did not witness
heavens and earthor even their own creation
Who runs creation
Allah and helpersa team
Allah aloneno partner, no advisor

Ibn Kathir explains: those taken as helpers instead of Allah are creatures just like you. They did not exist when the heavens and earth were made. Allah says I am the One Who independently creates and controls all things, with no partner or advisor. Malik said Adud means assistants.

You read your horoscope, check a lucky charm, or lean on a famous person's advice as if they hold the keys. They were not there at the beginning. They do not run anything.

Some people or things have special pull over my fate.

Only the One who created everything controls it. Everyone else is created too.

Try this

Drop one small superstition or charm you lean on, and say a dua in its place.

Related34:22
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

They did not witness the creation of the heavens and the earth nor their own creation, nor did I take those who mislead as 'Adudan (51)

The gods of the Idolators did not witness the Creation of anything, not even Themselves

Allah says: 'These whom you take as helpers instead of Me are creatures just like you. They do not possess anything and did not witness the creation of heaven and earth, because they did not exist at that time.' Allah says, 'I am the One Who independently and exclusively creates and controls all things, and I have no partner, associate or advisor in that.' As Allah says:

قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِن شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُم مِّن ظَهِيرٍ - وَلَا تَنفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ

(Say: "Call upon those you claim besides Allah, they possess not even a speck of dust in the heavens or on the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor is there for Him any assistant among them. Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.)[34:22-23]

Similarly Allah says here:

وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا

(nor did I take those who mislead as 'Adudan.) Malik said: "Assistants."