وَمَا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ ۖ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا
“And they have no knowledge about it. They follow nothing apart from assumption (or conjecture) (Zhann), and no doubt, assumption avails nothing at all against the truth”.
A portrait of two paths: empty conjecture versus truth, reality, and purpose.
“They have no knowledge of it whatsoever.” This concerns those who invent other religions and sell them: they have absolutely no knowledge when it comes to Allah, His Angels and the truth.
Using min emphasizes that they possess no knowledge at all regarding these matters of belief. Those who invented and promote these claims are charlatans and imposters.
“They follow nothing but assumption.” Their religion is built entirely upon Zhann—ideas without evidence. When that assumption is challenged and disproved, their whole religion falls apart.
Zhann is a conclusion with nothing solid to back it, standing opposed to Yaqeen (certainty). Islam stresses that everything believed and followed must be backed by proofs and evidence.
Muslims can fall into following assumption by taking cues from what everyone does or from habit. No aspect of the Deen can be based on assumptions; it must be rooted in clear proofs.
يَتَّبِعُونَ is in the present form (Al‑Mudaari’), indicating a continuous reality that people fall into across time.
Following Zhann ties to speaking, judging, and concluding without knowledge—or on scant knowledge that cannot yield correct judgments. Al‑Haqq (the truth) must be established as truth; conjecture can never substitute for it nor stand against it.
Therefore, Muslims must ask questions and seek conviction in everything related to their Deen.
Those who invent religions have no truth, no reality, and no purpose. In contrast, the Qur’an is the truth, it describes reality as it is, and it provides purpose for life.
In recent times, people say they “speak their truth,” making reality and judgments depend on personal feelings.
It demolishes the very concept of an objective reality and truth.
وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا — these “truths” based on Zhann cannot change reality or the truth, nor stand up against it.
It begins with Al‑Lāt, Al‑‘Uzzā and Al‑Manāt, how daughters were attributed to Allah and names were invented.
Allah sent no authority for these claimed beliefs and names; they only follow assumptions and what they love—desires and wishes.
Allah owns the end and the beginning.
Angels cannot speak or intercede on anyone’s behalf on Judgement Day, in this life, or the hereafter. Those who do not believe in the hereafter name the Angels with female names.
They have no knowledge at all of these matters; they only follow conjecture and assumption—and assumption cannot help against the truth and reality.
First and fourth correspond: both deal with false and invented names and beliefs.
Second and fifth correspond: what lies behind those inventions—assumptions, loves and wishes, no Sultan (authority and proof), no knowledge, and that assumption cannot benefit against the truth and reality nor change or stand up to it.
At the center stands the ultimate reality and truth: Allah owns the end and the beginning (the hereafter and the first world).
Everything believed in and followed must rest on clear proofs and evidence.
Do not follow what “everyone does” or what is habitual. No aspect of the Deen can be based on Azh‑Zhann.
Ask questions and seek Yaqeen. Assumptions can neither change reality, nor replace truth, nor fulfill purpose.