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Or is it that they have (am, 'or', functions with the sense of a hamza used to indicate denial, that is, [read it as] a-lahum, 'do they have') gods to defend them, against that which might cause them harm, besides Us? In other words, do they have anyone other than Us to defend them against such [things]? No! They, namely, the gods, cannot help themselves, and so they will not [be able to] help them; nor shall they, the disbelievers, be protected from Us, from Our chastisement (one may say sahibaka'llāhu, to mean 'May Allahu ta’ālā preserve and protect you').