وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ 43
Translations
And establish prayer and give zakāh and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
Transliteration
Wa aqimu as-salata wa atu az-zakata warkau ma'a ar-raki'in
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to establish prayer (salah), give alms (zakat), and join with those who bow in worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this verse combines individual spiritual obligation (salah and zakat) with communal worship, highlighting that Islam is both a personal commitment and a collective practice. The command to bow with those who bow (rukuu') symbolizes unity, humility, and submission to Allah alongside the Muslim community.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah, which addresses the Jewish tribes of Medina and establishes foundational Islamic practices for the new Muslim community. The context follows descriptions of believers and their characteristics, serving as a direct command to the believers to practice the core pillars of faith. The emphasis on communal prayer reflects the newly established Muslim society in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds is to believe in Allah and His Messenger, then to participate in jihad in the way of Allah, then to perform the Hajj (pilgrimage)' - and salah and zakat are foundational to all Islamic practice (Sahih Muslim 121). Additionally, 'Whoever prays our prayers and faces our qiblah and eats our slaughtered animals, then he is a Muslim under Allah's protection and His Prophet's protection' (Sahih Bukhari 391), emphasizing communal religious practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds modern believers that spiritual practice is incomplete without both personal devotion and active participation in the Muslim community; establishing prayer and giving zakat are not solitary acts but anchors that connect us to the broader ummah (Muslim nation) and strengthen our collective faith.