وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ۚ لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ 88
Translations
And do not invoke with Allāh another deity. There is no deity except Him. Everything will be destroyed except His Face. His is the judgement, and to Him you will be returned.
Transliteration
Wa lā tad'u ma'a Allāhi ilāhan ākhara, lā ilāha illā huwa, kullu shay'in hālikun illā wajhahu, lahu al-hukmu wa ilayhi turja'ūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a comprehensive affirmation of absolute monotheism (tawhid), commanding the prohibition of associating partners with Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that while all creation is perishable and temporary, only Allah's face (essence/self) is eternal and permanent. The ayah culminates with affirmation of Allah's sole authority and dominion over all affairs, and the return of all creation to Him for judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Qasas, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's power and wisdom through historical narratives. The context addresses the polytheistic practices of pre-Islamic Arabia, reinforcing the central message of Islam: the absolute oneness of Allah and the futility of worshipping besides Him. It serves as a powerful closing affirmation of tawhid.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best supplication is 'La ilāha illā Allāh' (There is no deity except Allah)' - Tirmidhi. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the night prayer (Qiyam al-Layl) includes the Prophet's teaching that Allah alone is eternal while all else perishes.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that only Allah deserves worship and devotion, as all other things—wealth, status, life itself—are temporary and will perish. For modern readers, this teaches the importance of shifting focus from worldly attachments to the eternal reality of Allah's oneness and our inevitable return to Him.
Related Ayahs
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
أَجَعَلَ ٱلْـَٔالِهَةَ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَشَىْءٌ عُجَابٌ
Has he made the gods [only] one God? Indeed, this is a curious thing."