4

Say: 'Have you considered - [say] Inform me [about] - what you invoke, [what] you worship, besides Allahu ta’ālā?, namely, the idols (min dūni'llāhi, constitutes the first object [of the verb]). Show me - inform me - (arūnī, [repeated] for emphasis), what they have created (mādhā khalaqū, the second object) of the earth (mina'l-ardi, the explication of mā, 'what [part]'). Or do they have any share, any partnership, in, the creation of, the heavens?, with Allahu ta’ālā? (am, 'or', has the significance of the [rhetorical interrogative] hamza of denial). Bring me a scripture, [that has been] revealed, before this, Qur'ān, or some vestige, some remnant, of knowledge, transmitted from the ancients confirming the soundness of your claim that your worship of the idols brings you closer to Allahu ta’ālā, if you are truthful', in your claim.