قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 162
Translations
Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
Transliteration
Qul inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi rabbi al-'alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that all aspects of his worship—prayer, sacrifices, life, and death—are exclusively devoted to Allah, the Lord of all creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah establishes the principle of Tawhid (monotheism) by affirming that every deed and moment of existence belongs to Allah alone, rejecting any association of partners with Him. This declaration serves as a model for believers to dedicate their entire lives to the worship and obedience of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and Allah's oneness. The context surrounding this verse addresses the refutation of polytheism and the reaffirmation of pure monotheistic belief. The ayah comes as part of Prophet Muhammad's clear proclamation to the Quraysh that his entire existence is consecrated to Allah's worship, countering their accusations and idolatrous practices.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected in this ayah relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is 'Alhamdulillah' (all praise is due to Allah),' emphasizing complete devotion. Additionally, the hadith in Tirmidhi about the Prophet's night prayer reflects the application of dedicating one's life to Allah's worship as mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true worship encompasses not merely ritual acts but the totality of one's existence—thoughts, actions, and intentions—all directed toward pleasing Allah. It invites modern Muslims to examine their hearts and realign their entire lives around the principle that everything belongs to Allah, transforming daily activities into acts of worship when performed with sincere intention.