Tafsir & Commentary
The Night Journey (الإسراء) · Meccan
لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًا مَّخْذُولًا22
17:22
Translation — Sahih International
Do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.
Transliteration
La taj'al ma'a Allahi ilahan akhara fataq'ud madhmuman makhdhula
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the avoidance of associating partners with Allah (shirk), warning that doing so results in being condemned and forsaken by Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this is a fundamental principle of tawhid (monotheism), emphasizing that polytheism is the gravest sin and leads to abandonment by Allah in this life and severe punishment in the Hereafter. The words 'madhmuman' (despised/blamed) and 'makhdhula' (forsaken/abandoned) underscore both social disgrace and spiritual desolation that befalls those who commit shirk.
Revelation Context (Asbab al-Nuzul)
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Isra, a Meccan surah that emphasizes core Islamic doctrines. It occurs within a section containing commandments related to monotheism and righteous conduct, following the command to worship Allah alone and preceding instructions on kindness to parents and social ethics. The thematic context emphasizes that tawhid is the foundation upon which all other religious obligations rest.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk), though He has created you' (Sahih Bukhari 4477). Additionally, 'Whoever meets Allah associating partners with Him will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93).
Themes
Key Lessons
This ayah teaches that sincere belief in the Oneness of Allah is the cornerstone of a dignified and spiritually fulfilled life, while associating partners with Him leads to both worldly disgrace and divine abandonment. For believers, it serves as a powerful reminder to continuously purify their intentions and ensure that all worship, obedience, and reliance are directed solely to Allah.