قُلْ أَىُّ شَىْءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهَـٰدَةً ۖ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ شَهِيدٌۢ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ ۚ وَأُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لِأُنذِرَكُم بِهِۦ وَمَنۢ بَلَغَ ۚ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً أُخْرَىٰ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَشْهَدُ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَإِنَّنِى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ 19
Translations
Say, "What thing is greatest in testimony?" Say, "Allāh is witness between me and you. And this Qur’ān was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches. Do you [truly] testify that with Allāh there are other deities?" Say, "I will not testify [with you]." Say, "Indeed, He is but one God, and indeed, I am free of what you associate [with Him]."
Transliteration
Qul ayyu shay'in akbaru shahādatan qul Allāh shahīdun baynī wa baynakum wa ūḥiya ilayya hādhā al-Qur'ānu li-undhirakum bihi wa man balagh a'innakum la-tashhādūna anna ma'a Allāhi ālihatun ukhrā qul lā ashhad qul innamā huwa ilāhun wāḥidun wa innanī barī'un mimmā tushrikūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet (ﷺ) is commanded to proclaim that Allah is the Greatest Witness between himself and his people, and that the Qur'an has been revealed to warn both those who hear it and those to whom it reaches. He then confronts the Meccan polytheists by asking if they truly believe in other gods alongside Allah, to which he categorically denies bearing witness to shirk and affirms absolute monotheism. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse establishes Allah's supreme testimony as evidence of His Oneness and the truthfulness of the Qur'an's message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am (a Meccan surah revealed during the early to middle Meccan period) and addresses the core dispute between the Prophet and the polytheists of Mecca regarding tawhīd (monotheism). The ayah comes within a section where the Prophet is instructed to present clear arguments against idolatry and to assert his disassociation from the shirk of his people.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4:55:605): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best thing I and the prophets before me have said is: There is no god but Allah, the One Who has no partner.' Additionally, related to witnessing truth, Muslim (1:32): Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet emphasized bearing witness to monotheism as a fundamental duty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the foundation of faith lies in pure monotheism and sincere disassociation from all forms of associating partners with Allah, while reminding us that the Qur'an is a mercy and warning sent for all humanity. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of clear conviction in Allah's Oneness and the courage to publicly proclaim truth even when facing societal pressure and opposition.