Al-Hajj Verse 13

They invoke those whose worship leads to harm, not benefit. What an evil patron and what an evil associate!

They invoke those whose harm is more likely than their benefit. What a terrible protector and what a terrible associate!

He calls upon him who is likelier to hurt him, rather than to profit him -- an evil protector indeed, he, an evil friend!

or invoke one whose harm is closer than his help: an evil master and an evil companion.

He calleth upon him whose hurt is nearer than his profit: surely ill the patron! ill the comrade!

(Perhaps) they call on one whose hurt is nearer than his profit; evil, indeed, is the patron, and evil the companion (or help)!

He invokes those that are more likely to cause him harm than benefit. Such is surely an evil patron, and an evil associate.

They pray to him whose bane is more imminent than his boon: How bad the protector and how bad the associate!

They worship one from whom harm is expected more than the benefit; indeed what an evil master and indeed what an evil friend!

He invokes someone whose harm is surely likelier than his benefit. An evil ally indeed, and an evil companion!

He even invokes the being that is far more likely to cause harm than benefit: what evil a patron, and what evil an associate!

He calls upon him whose harm is much more likely than his good. How evil is this false god to be his patron and how evil is (he to be) his associate!

He calls who (E) his harm (is) nearer/closer than his benefit, how bad (E) (is) the ally, and how bad (E) (is) the associate/companion ?

They worship one from whom harm is expected more than the benefit; indeed what an evil master and indeed what an evil friend!

He calls, besides Allah, on what can neither harm him nor profit him - that is a wide error.

He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit; certainly, and evil Maula (patron) and certainly an evil friend!

He calls besides Allah on that which harms him not, nor benefits him; that is straying far.

He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his profit; evil certainly is the guardian and evil certainly is the associate.

He calleth unto him whose harm is nearer than his benefit; verily an evil patron and verily an evil friend!

Their worship of such things, in which there is no hope for any benefit, can only harm them. How terrible is such a guardian and companion!

He calls upon him whose harm is nearer than his benefit, an evil guide and an evil friend.

He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit; certainly an evil Mawla and certainly an evil `Ashir!

he calls on that which would sooner harm than help. Such a patron is indeed evil and such a companion is indeed evil.

He invokes one whose harm is closer than his benefit. What a miserable master. What a miserable companion.

He calls on him (the lm [of la-man] is extra) whose harm, when worshipped, is likelier than his benefit, even if he were to have any benefit, as he imagines [him to have]. Truly an evil patron, is he, that is, [an evil] helper, and an evil friend, [an evil] companion is he. After the mention of `the doubter' and [his being in manifest] `loss' [above, verse 11] there follows [the mention of] the believers and [their] reward, as follows;

يَدْعُو لَمَن ضَرُّهُ أَقْرَبُ مِن نَّفْعِهِ

He calls unto him whose harm is nearer than his profit;

means, he is more likely to harm him than benefit him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will most certainly cause him harm.

لَبِيْسَ الْمَوْلَى وَلَبِيْسَ الْعَشِيرُ



certainly an evil Mawla and certainly an evil `Ashir!

Mujahid said,

"This means the idols."

The meaning is;

"How evil a friend is this one upon whom he calls instead of Allah as a helper and supporter."

وَلَبِيْسَ الْعَشِيرُ


and certainly an evil `Ashir!

means the one with whom one mixes and spends one's time