Surah Mulk Verse 20 — Ayat 20

Arabic Text

أَمَّنۡ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی هُوَ جُندࣱ لَّكُمۡ یَنصُرُكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِۚ إِنِ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ إِلَّا فِی غُرُورٍ

Transliteration

Amman haazal lazee huwa jundul lakum yansurukum min doonir rahmaan; inilkaafiroona illaa fee ghuroor

English Translation

Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.

English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)

Word-by-Word

• أَمَّنْ amman Who is
• هَـٰذَا hādhā this
• ٱلَّذِى alladhī the one
• هُوَ huwa he
• جُندٌۭ jundun (is) an army
• لَّكُمْ lakum for you
• يَنصُرُكُم yanṣurukum to help you
• مِّن min from
• دُونِ dūni besides
• ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ l-raḥmāni the Most Gracious
• إِنِ ini Not
• ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ l-kāfirūna (are) the disbelievers
• إِلَّا illā but
• فِى fī in
• غُرُورٍ ghurūrin delusion

Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).

Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 20)

Challenge: amman ha dha alladhi huwa jundun lakum yansurukum min dun al-Rahman? What army besides the Merciful can aid you? In al-kafirun illa fi ghurur: disbelievers dwell in delusion.

Tafsir unpacks ghurur as trusting numbers, weapons, or tribal pacts while ignoring the One who permitted their existence. Meccan reliance on Quraysh strength is targeted without naming individuals.

Pair with next ayah on rizq: military and economic security both fail if Rahman withdraws permission.

Key Arabic Words

• غُرُورٍ delusion This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• أَمَّنْ Who is This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• هَـٰذَا this This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• لَّكُمْ for you This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.

Classical Tafsir (Verified Summary)

Reflection on Creation

This ayah invites quiet consideration of no army aids besides al-Rahman; disbelievers in delusion. Creation around us—sky, earth, birds, and daily provision—does not replace revelation, but it can soften hearts toward obedience when viewed as signs of a wise, merciful origin rather than meaningless accident. Study ayah 20 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of no army aids besides al-Rahman; disbelievers in delusion. Read ayah 19 and ayah 21 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 20 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of no army aids besides al-Rahman; disbelievers in delusion. Read ayah 19 and ayah 21 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 20 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of no army aids besides al-Rahman; disbelievers in delusion. Read ayah 19 and ayah 21 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans.

Family & Bedtime Practice

Discuss who truly “helps” at school or work—kindness and success come from Allah first; thank Him after a good day. Write ayah 20’s number on the memorization tracker before moving to the next ayah. Write ayah 20’s number on the memorization tracker before moving to the next ayah.

For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.

Short Tafsir Note

No army can help against ar-Rahman except those He permits. True aid is divine, not material alliances alone.

Read full multi-scholar tafsir →

Key Lessons

• Reliance on Allah over worldly power
• Victory is by permission
• Numbers do not guarantee success

Listen to This Verse

Mishary Rashid Alafasy