And His—Exalted is He—statement: “Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim apart from Allah; they do not possess even the weight of an atom in the heavens or on the earth…’” — the two verses.

The completion of the two verses is His saying: “Nor do they have any share in either of them, nor has He among them any helper. Intercession is of no benefit with Him except for those to whom He gives permission. Then, when the dread is lifted from their hearts, they will say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They will answer, ‘The truth, and He is the Most High, the All-Great.’” [Saba: 22–23].

q ul (“Say”): address the idolaters.

zaʿamtum (“you claim”): you have claimed them to be deities.

min dūni llāh (“apart from Allah”): other than Him, so that—according to your claim—they might benefit you.

min dūni llāh (“apart from Allah”): other than Him, so that—according to your claim—you might gain benefit.

mithqāl: weight.

dharrah: a particle of good or evil; originally the term for a tiny ant, and it is also applied to every speck of floating dust.

shirk: a share jointly held with Allah.

minhum (“among them”): among the alleged gods.

min ẓahīr (“any helper”): a supporter who assists Him in managing the affairs of the heavens and the earth.

wa-lā tanfaʿu ash-shafāʿatu ʿindahu (“Intercession is of no benefit with Him”): that is, with Allah, refuting their claim that their gods intercede for them.

illā liman adhina lahu (“except for those to whom He gives permission”): that he may intercede for someone else.

Overall meaning of the two verses: Allah, Magnified and Exalted, instructs His Prophet to challenge the polytheists, saying: “Call upon your gods whom you allege can benefit you and remove