"Say, if there were with Him gods as they say," and it is recited with both 'ya' and 'ta' (prefix), "then they would have sought," meaning: the gods, "a way to the Owner of the Throne." Qatada said: He says, they would have recognized His superiority over them, and they would have sought what would draw them near to Him.
﴿قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ آلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ﴾ وَتُقْرَأُ بِالْيَاءِ وَالتَّاءِ ﴿إِذًا لابْتَغَوْا﴾ يَعْنِي: الْآلِهَةُ ﴿إِلَى ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلا﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: يَقُولُ: إِذًا لَعَرَفُوا فَضْلَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلَابْتَغَوْا مَا يُقَرِّبُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ.
