وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۖ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ 51
Translations
And do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity. Indeed, I am to you from Him a clear warner.
Transliteration
Wa laa taj'aluu ma'a Allahi ilahan akhara. Inni lakum minhu nadhirun mubin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a clear command from Allah prohibiting the association of partners with Him (shirk) and affirms Prophet Muhammad's role as an explicit warner to humanity. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this verse represents the core message of all prophets—the absolute oneness of Allah—and the Prophet's solemn responsibility to warn against idolatry and polytheism with unmistakable clarity.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense opposition from the Quraysh who worshipped idols alongside Allah. This surah addresses the fundamental message of tawhid (monotheism) in response to the polytheistic practices of pre-Islamic Arabia, emphasizing that the Prophet's primary mission is to warn against shirk with complete clarity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 4476). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93), reinforcing the severity of the warning in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a timeless reminder that absolute devotion belongs only to Allah, and believers must guard against subtle forms of shirk in their hearts and actions. The Prophet's role as a 'clear warner' mirrors the responsibility of every Muslim to convey the message of tawhid with conviction and clarity.