إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُونِ 92
Translations
Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.
Transliteration
Inna haadhihi ummatkum ummatan wahidatan wa ana rabbukum fa'budun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses all the prophets and their followers, affirming that despite their differences in laws and times, they all belong to one unified Ummah (community) with one Lord deserving worship. Ibn Kathir explains this ayah emphasizes the essential unity of purpose among all prophets—the call to monotheism and obedience to Allah—even though the Sharia (laws) may have differed between them. Al-Tabari notes this verse consolidates the fundamental agreement between all divine messages: that Allah alone is worthy of worship and obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Anbiya, which surveys the stories of various prophets and emphasizes their shared mission. The verse comes as a conclusive statement after multiple prophetic narratives, highlighting the universal theme connecting all messengers from Noah to Muhammad (peace be upon them). It serves to unite the Ummah under the banner of Tawhid (monotheism) and obedience despite cultural and temporal differences.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The prophets are brothers from one father and different mothers, and their laws are different but their religion is one.' (Sahih Bukhari 3442) This hadith directly parallels the meaning of this ayah, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all prophets despite variations in their specific teachings.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are reminded that beneath surface differences in traditions and practices, they are united under one faith and one Lord, which should promote brotherhood and focus on core Islamic principles rather than divisive secondary matters. This ayah calls believers to prioritize spiritual unity and the worship of Allah alone as the foundation of their communal identity.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهَا مِن رُّوحِنَا وَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا وَٱبْنَهَآ ءَايَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity [i.e., Mary], so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds.
قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَإِقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا عَـٰبِدِينَ
And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakāh; and they were worshippers of Us.