idol there is a devil who appears to its custodians and speaks to them.”

Ubayy ibn Ka‘b said:
“With every idol there is a female jinn.”

It has also been said that “females” here means inanimate things. Al-Hasan said:
“Everything without life, such as wood and stone, is termed ‘female.’”

Al-Zajjāj said:
“All inanimate things are spoken of in the feminine. Thus, one says in Arabic, ‘The stones please me’ and ‘The dirhams benefit you.’”

This is not confined to inanimate things. Rather, everything other than Allah Most High can be referred to collectively using a feminine form. Thus one says al-malā’ika (“angels”), and those worshipped besides Allah are called āliha (“gods”). Allah Most High said:

“Say, ‘Whose testimony is greatest?’ Say, ‘Allah is witness between me and you. This Quran has been revealed to me so that I may warn you with it and whoever it reaches. Do you really testify that there are other gods besides Allah?’ Say, ‘I do not so testify.’ Say, ‘He is but One God, and I am free of whatever you associate with Him.’”

Allah Most High also said:

“We brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came upon a people devoted to their idols. They said, ‘O Moses, make us a god just as they have gods.’ He said, ‘You are indeed an ignorant people.’”

“What these people are engaged in is doomed to destruction, and all they have been doing is in vain.”

“He said, ‘Shall I seek a god for you other than Allah, when He has favoured you above all peoples?’”

These are idols, and they are referred to in the feminine. Allah Most High said:

“Have you considered those you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intends harm for me, can they remove His harm? Or if He intends mercy for me, can they withhold His mercy? Say, ‘Allah is sufficient for me. In Him those who trust place their trust.’”

All the deities worshipped besides Allah are of this nature, and they are