Tafsir Al-Jalalayn: Az-Zukhruf, Ayah 58
وَقَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَٰلِهَتُنَا خَيْرٌ أَمْ هُوَ ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًۢا ۚ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ
And they said, "Are your gods better, or is he?" They did not present the comparison except for [mere] argument. But, [in fact], they are a people prone to dispute.
Common Words
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وقالوا1x
ءألهتنا1x
خير1x
أم1x
هو1x
ما1x
ضربوه1x
لك1x
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جدلا1x
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(And say) i.e. 'Abdullah al-Zib'ari: (Are our gods better) O Muhammad, (or is he) i.e. Jesus the son of Mary? For if he is allowed in the Fire with the Christians, we are also allowed therein with our deities. (They raise not the objection) they do not mention Jesus the son of Mary (save for argument) save for wrangling and dispute. (Nay! but they are a contentious folk) they argue in defence of falsehood.
Al-Jalalayn Commentary
And they say ‘Are our gods better or he?’ Jesus. We are satisfied that our gods be in the same predicament with him. They only cite this that is the example to you for the sake of contention merely arguing with falsehood for they know that the particle mā of wa-mā ta‘budūna ‘and what you worship’ refers only to non-rational beings and cannot therefore include Jesus peace be upon him. Nay but they are a contentious lot an extremely disputatious folk.