The Quran

Preface

أَم لَهُم شُرَكاءُ شَرَعوا لَهُم مِنَ الدّينِ ما لَم يَأذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَولا كَلِمَةُ الفَصلِ لَقُضِيَ بَينَهُم ۗ وَإِنَّ الظّالِمينَ لَهُم عَذابٌ أَليمٌ

Yusuf Ali

What! have they partners¹ (in godhead), who have established for them some religion without the permission of God. Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong- doers will have a grievous Penalty.

Nothing can exist without the permission of God. Can people, who indulge in false worship say: “Why does God permit it?” The answer is: “a certain latitude is allowed with the grant of a limited form of free will. When the time for Judgment comes, the Punishment is sure.” See n. 1810 to 13:6. Decree (or Word) of Judgment. See n. 1407 to 10:19.