Quran Universe
31:11

هَٰذَا خَلۡقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ

Hatha khalqu Allahi faaroonee matha khalaqa allatheena min doonihi bali alththalimoona fee dalalin mubeenin

This is the creation of Allah. So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error.

Word by word
  1. هَٰذَاThis
  2. خَلۡقُ(is the) creation
  3. ٱللَّهِ(of) Allah
  4. فَأَرُونِيSo show Me
  5. مَاذَاwhat
  6. خَلَقَhave created
  7. ٱلَّذِينَthose
  8. مِنbesides Him
  9. دُونِهِۦۚbesides Him
  10. بَلِNay
  11. ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَthe wrongdoers
  12. فِي(are) in
  13. ضَلَٰلٖerror
  14. مُّبِينٖclear
Luqman · 31:11Makkah

This is His creation. Show Me what others made.

A challenge to everything people rely on besides Allah

The challenge
Allah's creationsky, earth, life
versus
what others madenothing
What to rely on
things that made nothingidols, rivals
the One who made allno partner

Ibn Kathir says all this creation comes from Allah's power alone, with no partner. The idol worshippers of Makkah were challenged: show what your idols created. Their error was plain, not hidden.

Your confidence rests on the job, the savings, the right connection. Ask honestly: what did any of them create? They are gifts that were made and given. The Maker deserves the trust.

My security comes from what I have built up.

Nothing I lean on made itself. Only the Maker deserves my trust.

Try this

Name one thing you lean on too much, and thank Allah for giving it to you.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 31:10)

He has created the heavens without any pillars that you see, and has set on the earth firm mountains lest it should shake with you. And He has scattered therein moving creatures of all kinds. And We send down water from the sky, and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein in pairs (10)This is the creation of Allah. So, show Me that which those besides Him have created. Nay, the wrongdoers are in plain error (11)

Proofs of Tawhid

Thus Allah explains His mighty power in creating the heavens and the earth, and everything that is within them and between them. He says:

خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ

(He has created the heavens without any pillars) Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "It does not have any pillars, visible or invisible."

وَأَلْقَىٰ فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ

(and has set on the earth firm mountains) means, the mountains which stabilize and lend weight to the earth, lest it should shake with its water. Allah says:

 أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ

(lest it should shake with you.)

وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ

(And He has scattered therein moving creatures of all kinds) means, He has placed throughout it all kinds of animals, the total number of whose kinds and colors is known to no one except the One Who created them. When Allah tells us that He is the Creator, He also reminds us that He is the Provider, as He says:

وَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَنْبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِنْ كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ 

(And We send down water from the sky, and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein in pairs,) meaning, every kind of good produce in pairs, i.e., they are beautiful to look at. Ash-Sha'bi said: "People are also produce of the earth, so whoever enters Paradise is goodly and whoever enters Hell is vile."

هَٰذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ

(This is the creation of Allah.) means, all that Allah has mentioned here of the creation of the heavens and earth and everything in between stems from His power of creation and control alone, and He has no partner or associate in that, Allah says:

فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِ

(So, show Me that which those besides Him have created.) those idols and rivals whom you worship and call upon.

بَلِ الظَّالِمُونَ 

(Nay, the wrongdoers) means the idolators who associate others in worship with Allah

فِي ضَلَالٍ

(in error) means, they are ignorant and blind.

مُبِينٍ

(plain) means, it is clear and obvious, and not at all hidden.