creation, Knowing.” He then made this clear to them by saying:

“He who made fire for you from the green tree, from which you then kindle.”

[Yā Sīn: 79–80]

Through what they could observe of His producing fire from the ‘afār and markh—two green trees in which fire ignites when one rubs against the other as the wind moves them—He showed them that He could restore life to bones, decayed remains, and torn skins.

He then alerted the idol-worshippers to the falsity of worshipping idols that they themselves carved, saying, exalted is He:

“Do you worship what you carve?”

Then He said:

“Allah created you and what you do.”

[Al-Sāffāt: 95–96]

He thus explained the falsity of worshipping them and the obligation to worship Him rather than them: if they become idols only through your carving them, then you too would not be as you are