وَأَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ 72
Translations
And to establish prayer and fear Him." And it is He to whom you will be gathered.
Transliteration
Wa an aqīmū as-salāta wat-taqūh. Wa huwa alladhī ilayhi tuhsharūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the establishment of prayer and taqwa (God-consciousness/fear of Allah) as essential acts of obedience. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that these two pillars form the foundation of a righteous life, with the reminder that all humanity will ultimately be gathered before Allah on the Day of Judgment, making accountability a motivating factor for obedience in this life.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, which addresses fundamental Islamic principles and monotheism. The verse comes within a passage where Prophet Ibrahim is presented as an exemplar of faith, instructing his people to worship Allah alone and establish prayer. The context emphasizes that belief in Allah must manifest through practical obedience and preparation for the final gathering.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The first deed for which a servant will be called to account on the Day of Judgment is prayer. If it is good, the rest of his deeds will be good; and if it is defective, the rest of his deeds will be defective.' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Taqwa is here' - pointing to the heart - emphasizing that true God-consciousness originates from sincere hearts (Sunan At-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
Prayer and God-consciousness are not merely ritual obligations but intertwined spiritual practices that shape one's entire moral character and prepare the soul for divine accountability. Remembering that all human beings will be gathered before Allah should inspire believers to cultivate sincere devotion and mindful obedience in their daily lives.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَطْرُدِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And do not send away those who call upon their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His face [i.e., favor]. Not upon you is anything of their account and not upon them is anything of your account. So were you to send them away, you would [then] be of the wrongdoers.
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۖ فَمَنْ ءَامَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ وُقِفُوا۟ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ ۚ قَالَ أَلَيْسَ هَـٰذَا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَرَبِّنَا ۚ قَالَ فَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ
If you could but see when they will be made to stand before their Lord. He will say, "Is this not the truth?" They will say, "Yes, by our Lord." He will [then] say, "So taste the punishment for what you used to deny."
قُل لَّآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِى خَزَآئِنُ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ ٱلْغَيْبَ وَلَآ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّى مَلَكٌ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I do not tell you that I have the depositories [containing the provision] of Allāh or that I know the unseen, nor do I tell you that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me." Say, "Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give thought?"