Finding Meaning of the Word Ruin in Sūrah Al-’Anbiya’, Verse 221

Sūrah Al-’Anbiya’, Verse 22 argues for the unity of God stating that if there was more than one God in the world, the world would be ruined; but the world is not ruined, so the world has no more than one God. Problems and doubts are raised about this argument, the main pivot of which is often a lack of correct understanding of the term ruin. Moreover, determining what the meaning of the word ruin is and which degree of monotheism it proves contributes to the accurate understanding of the verse. In one view, the meaning of ruin in the verse is the lack of moderation and disorder in the world that leads to ruin. In the second view, ruin means the demise of the universe. In this paper, by relying on the meaning and uses of the term “Ilāh” in the Qur’an, and appealing to the similar verses, this hypothesis is proved that the term “ruin” refers to a general meaning whose instances are non-existence and disorder. Hence the verse proves monotheism in creation as well as monotheism in lordship. Therefore, the implication of the verse is broad and is not limited to denying the beliefs of the pagans, and it is proved that the realization of ruin in the universe is basically impossible.