طه : ٨٩

  • أَفَلَا Then did not
  • يَرَوۡنَ they see
  • أَلَّا that not
  • يَرۡجِعُ it (could) return
  • إِلَيۡهِمۡ to them
  • قَوۡلٗا a word
  • وَلَا and not
  • يَمۡلِكُ possess
  • لَهُمۡ for them
  • ضَرّٗا any harm
  • وَلَا and not
  • نَفۡعٗا any benefit
Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech [i.e., response] and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?
Did they not see that ([in allaa] an has been softened in place of the hardened form, with its subject omitted, in other words [it should be] annahu) it, the Calf, did not reciprocate their words, that is, that it did not give them any response in return, nor did it have any power over hurt for them, that is, [any power] to prevent it, or any benefit?, that is, [any power] to procure it [for them], in other words, how can such [a thing] be taken as a god?