إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ 5
Translations
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
Transliteration
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the core principle of monotheistic worship and absolute dependence on Allah alone. Ibn Kathir explains that 'iyyaka na'budu' (You alone we worship) signifies exclusive devotion to Allah, while 'wa iyyaka nasta'een' (and You alone we seek help from) emphasizes that all aid and assistance come solely from Him. Al-Qurtubi notes this verse encapsulates the relationship between servant and Lord: complete obedience in worship paired with complete reliance in seeking assistance.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fatihah was revealed in Mecca as the opening chapter of the Quran. Verse 5 represents the transition from praising Allah's attributes (verses 1-4) to making personal declarations of faith and seeking guidance (verses 5-7). It serves as the believer's direct address to Allah, forming the essential supplication within the obligatory prayer.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When the servant says in prayer, Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een, Allah says: My servant has expressed his true purpose.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'All praise belongs to Allah' is the response to this verse in the dialogue between servant and Lord during prayer (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true spiritual strength comes from recognizing that worship and help belong exclusively to Allah, encouraging Muslims to redirect all hopes, fears, and efforts toward Him alone. It reminds us that acknowledging our complete dependence on Allah is not weakness but the foundation of authentic faith and empowerment.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ
Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me.
تُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۖ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۖ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account [i.e., limit or measure]."
مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ ۚ إِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Allāh has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] overcome others. Exalted is Allāh above what they describe [concerning Him].
وَسْـَٔلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ
And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?