Chapter: Allah the Exalted says, "Do they associate with Him those who create nothing while they themselves are created, and who are unable to help them, nor are they able to help themselves?" (Al-Aʿrāf 191–192).

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd (monotheism): the author—may Allah have mercy on him—cites these verses as conclusive proof for the futility of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and to expose the reality of those who are invoked besides Allah, thereby establishing pure monotheism with decisive evidence.

A-yushrikūn: an interrogative that expresses censure and rebuke for anyone who joins partners with Allah in worship.

Mā lā yakhluqu shayʾan: refers to created beings that possess no power to create and therefore have no claim whatsoever to worship.

Wa hum yukhlaqūn: meaning that these alleged deities are themselves created and originated; a created being can never be a partner to the Creator.

Wa lā yastaṭīʿūna lahum naṣran: those objects of worship are incapable of giving victory or aid to their worshippers.

Wa lā anfusahum yanṣurūn: they cannot even ward off harm from themselves; how, then, could they protect anyone else?

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, majestic and exalted, reproaches the polytheists for worshipping alongside Him beings that cannot create a thing, possess nothing that would entitle them to worship, and are powerless to avert