يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ أَرْضِى وَٰسِعَةٌ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱعْبُدُونِ 56
Translations
O My servants who have believed, indeed My earth is spacious, so worship only Me.
Transliteration
Ya 'ibadi alladhina amanu inna ardi waasi'atun fa-iyyaya fa'budun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is Allah's address to His believing servants, reassuring them that His earth is vast and spacious, and commanding them to worship only Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as Allah's directive to believers facing persecution or hardship to migrate to safer lands where they can practice their faith freely, while emphasizing that true worship transcends geographical boundaries—what matters is sincere devotion to Allah alone. The verse combines practical guidance (emigration as a permissible solution) with spiritual principle (exclusive worship of Allah).
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Meccan period when Muslims faced severe persecution from the Quraysh, providing both permission and encouragement for believers to emigrate (hijrah) to regions where they could worship safely. Within Surah Al-'Ankabut's broader context of testing faith and steadfastness, this verse serves as a compassionate reminder that Allah provides means of relief for His persecuted servants.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever leaves their home in the cause of Allah will find many places of refuge and abundance on earth' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet commanded emigration from lands of oppression: 'Whoever among you cannot establish the religion should emigrate' (related to various collections on hijrah).
Themes
Key Lesson
For believers facing oppression or inability to practice faith freely, Allah provides practical solutions and alternatives, yet the ultimate objective remains sincere, undivided worship of the Creator. This teaches modern Muslims that removing oneself from spiritually harmful environments is permissible and sometimes necessary, but the journey's purpose is always to draw closer to Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا جَآءَتْ رُسُلُنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ بِٱلْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مُهْلِكُوٓا۟ أَهْلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ۖ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And when Our messengers [i.e., angels] came to Abraham with the good tidings, they said, "Indeed, we will destroy the people of that [i.e., Lot's] city. Indeed, its people have been wrongdoers."
قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Say, "Sufficient is Allāh between me and you as Witness. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And they who have believed in falsehood and disbelieved in Allāh - it is those who are the losers."
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ ٱلنُّبُوَّةَ وَٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ أَجْرَهُۥ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ لَمِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We gave to him Isaac and Jacob and placed in his descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous.
يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْحَمُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ تُقْلَبُونَ
He punishes whom He wills and has mercy upon whom He wills, and to Him you will be returned.