Tafsir & Commentary
The Criterion (الفرقان) · Meccan
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا68
25:68
Translation — Sahih International
And those who do not invoke with Allāh another deity or kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna lā yad'ūna ma'a Allāhi ilāhan ākhara wa lā yaqtulūna an-nafsa allatī harrama Allāhu illā bi-al-haqq wa lā yaznūn; wa man yaf'al dhālika yalqa athāmā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the characteristics of the righteous servants of Allah ('ibād ar-Rahmān), emphasizing three major prohibitions: not associating partners with Allah (shirk), not unlawfully taking human life, and avoiding fornication/adultery. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these represent fundamental violations of Allah's laws, and whoever commits these sins will face severe punishment ('athām - sin and its consequences). The ayah establishes that obedience to Allah encompasses both theological monotheism and moral rectitude in action.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan (Chapter 25), revealed in Mecca during a period of intense persecution of Muslims. The surah contrasts the attributes of the righteous believers with the arrogance and sins of the disbelievers. This specific passage (25:63-77) forms a cohesive section describing the noble characteristics ('ibād ar-Rahmān - servants of the Most Merciful), establishing ethical standards for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The greatest sins are: to associate partners with Allah, to disobey parents, and to kill a soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed.' (Sahih Bukhari 6811). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever commits fornication has not believed at that moment' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3175).
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah reminds believers that true faith in Allah must be accompanied by ethical conduct; avoiding the major sins (shirk, unlawful killing, and fornication) reflects genuine submission to Allah's will and demonstrates the inseparability of creed from righteous action in Islamic life.