لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ 163
Translations
No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
Transliteration
La shareeka lahu wa bidhalika umirtu wa ana awwalu al-muslimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah concludes Prophet Muhammad's declaration of pure monotheism, affirming that Allah has no partner in His divinity, lordship, or worship. The Prophet emphasizes his personal submission to this divine command and his position as the first among the Muslims (ummah) to fully embrace and embody Islamic monotheism. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this statement reflects the Prophet's complete certainty in tawhid and his role as the exemplar of Islamic faith for his followers.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (6:162-163), revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period when polytheism was deeply entrenched in Arabian society. The context is the Prophet's public proclamation of monotheism and his ritual devotion, serving as a direct response to the idolatry surrounding him and establishing the theological foundation of Islam.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim (1218) where the Prophet said, 'I am the first of the Muslims' (Ana awwalu man aslama) reinforces this concept of his precedence in submission. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari (4777) regarding the Prophet's statement about tawhid emphasizes the centrality of monotheism in Islamic practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that true faith requires unwavering commitment to monotheism and following the Prophet's example as the model believer. It reminds us that submission to Allah's oneness is not merely intellectual assent but a lived reality that shapes all aspects of worship and conduct.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَـٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And whoever invokes besides Allāh another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُو۟لِىٓ أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۗ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him, [being] sincere to Him in religion. [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا
Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allāh, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant - He will gather them to Himself all together.