21 Preface أَمِ اتَّخَذوا آلِهَةً مِنَ الأَرضِ هُم يُنشِرونَYusuf AliOr have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth1 who can raise (the dead)?2The different kinds of false gods whom people raise from their imagination are now referred to. In verses 21-23, the reference is to the gods of the earth, whether idols or local godlings, or deified heroes, or animals or trees or forces of the nature around us, which men have from time to time worshipped. These, as deities, have not life except what their worshippers give them.The answer of course is “no”. No one but God can raise the dead to life. The miracle in the story of Jesus (3:49 and 5:112-115) was “by God’s leave”. It was a miracle of God, not one of Jesus by his own power or will.