“Or were they created without an agent, or are they (themselves) the creators?!”
أَمْ
Insights from the explanation
Created by nothing?
خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ
“Were they created by nothing?” i.e., without a creator to bring them into being?
This has come as a reprimand for their not thinking about their own creation.
It is the same question that is directed upon all those who believe that they came from nothing by accident and without purpose, or those who fail to make a connection between their creation and their creator in life.
Do they really believe this and if not, then who did create you?
Or… the creators themselves?
أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ
“or are they the creators?!” i.e., they created themselves.
This is a continuation of the reprimand for not thinking about their own creation and relationship with their creator.
It is like it is saying: If you don’t acknowledge that you have been created by Allah, then what do you believe? That you just came from nothing and by nothing or that you created yourselves and that there was no creator behind your creation?! Is that what you truly believe?!
Who is being addressed
All those who believe that they came from nothing by accident and without purpose.
Those who fail to make a connection between their creation and their creator in life.
Reprimand for not thinkingEither/Or challenge
The logical challenge highlighted
Option A
“Were they created by nothing?”
Questioning the claim of coming from nothing by accident and without purpose.
Option B
“or are they the creators?!”
Questioning that they created themselves with no creator behind their creation.
Emphasis and tone
Both questions function as a firm reprimand for not thinking about one’s own creation and relationship with the creator.