ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ 3
Translations
Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
Transliteration
Ittabi'u ma unzila ilaykum min rabbikum wa la tattabi'u min dūnihi awliyā'. Qalīlan mā tatadhakkarūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands believers to follow the revelation sent down by Allah and prohibits them from following other guardians, authorities, or false deities besides Him. Ibn Kathir notes this establishes the principle of exclusive obedience to divine guidance, while Al-Tabari emphasizes that 'awliyā' (guardians/protectors) refers to those who lead people away from Allah's path. The concluding phrase 'how little you remember' expresses regret at human forgetfulness of this fundamental principle despite its clarity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf (a Meccan surah), which addresses the fundamental beliefs of monotheism and obedience to Allah. It was revealed during the early Meccan period when polytheists were encouraging followers to abandon the Qur'an and follow their leaders and cultural traditions instead. The broader context emphasizes the contrast between divine guidance and human innovation (bid'ah).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever obeys me obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me disobeys Allah' (Sahih Bukhari). Also related: 'The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad' (Sahih Muslim), emphasizing adherence to revelation over other sources.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must prioritize divine revelation and guidance from Allah over cultural traditions, worldly leaders, and personal desires, recognizing that true protection and success come only from following what Allah has revealed. This ayah calls us to constant vigilance against the subtle pressures of society that lead us away from pure Islamic principles.