Thus were the idol worshipers duped by their idols, to the extent of killing their own children.* In fact, their idols inflict great pain upon them, and confuse their religion for them. Had God willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
وَكَذٰلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثيرٍ مِنَ المُشرِكينَ قَتلَ أَولٰدِهِم شُرَكاؤُهُم لِيُردوهُم وَلِيَلبِسوا عَلَيهِم دينَهُم وَلَو شاءَ اللَّهُ ما فَعَلوهُ فَذَرهُم وَما يَفتَرونَ
wa kazaalika zaiyana likaseerim minal mushrikeena qatla awlaadihim shurakaaa’uhum liyurdoohum wa liyalbisoo ‘alaihim deenahum wa law shaaa’al laahu maa fa’aloohu fazarhum wa maa yaftaroon
*6:137 A perfect example is the internationally infamous incident of the execution of a Saudi Arabian princess in 1978 for alleged adultery. God’s law institutes whipping, not execution, as a punishment for adultery (24:1-2), while the idolatrous laws stipulate execution. As pointed out in 42:21, the traditionalists follow a religion that is not authorized by God.