﴿ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًۭا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّۭا وَلَا نَفْعًۭا ﴾

“Why-did they not see that [the thing] could not give them any response, and had no power to harm or to benefit them?”

Allah then said: (See they not) i.e. al-Samiri and his host, (then, that it) the calf (returneth no saying unto them) does not answer them (and possesseth for them) and has no power (neither hurt) either to drive away harm from them (nor use) or bring benefit to them?