16: 20
Yusuf Ali Those whom they invoke besides Allah create nothing and are themselves created.
Pickthall Those unto whom they cry beside Allah created naught, but are themselves created.
Transliteration Wallazina yad'u_na min du_nilla_hi la_ yakhluqu_na syai'aw wa hum yukhlaqu_n(a).
[Asad ntoe 13: …….this refers – as is obvious from verse 21 below – to dead saints invested by their followers with divine or semi-divine qualities. ]
16: 21
Asad They are dead, not living, and they do not know when they will be raised from the dead!
Yusuf Ali (They are things) dead lifeless: nor do thy know when they will be raised up.
Pickthall (They are) dead, not living. And they know not when they will be raised.
Transliteration Amwa_tun gairu ahya_'(in), wa ma_ yasy'uru_na ayya_na yub'asu_n(a).
[ Asad note 14: Cf: 7: 161 – 194 ]
[ Ali’s note 2044: Idols are dead wood or stone. If men worship stars, or heroes, or prophets, or great men, they too have no life except that which was given by Allah. In themselves they are lifeless. If they worship figments of the imagination, they are reflections in a double degree, and have no life in themselves. All these things will be raised up on the Last Day, in order that false worshippers may be confronted with them. But they themselves cannot tell when that Day will be. (16.21) ]