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
فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا
Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allāh, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant - He will gather them to Himself all together.
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ ۗ قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?" Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first [among you] who submit [to Allāh] and [was commanded], 'Do not ever be of the polytheists."
أَمْ لَهُمْ ءَالِهَةٌ تَمْنَعُهُم مِّن دُونِنَا ۚ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَا هُم مِّنَّا يُصْحَبُونَ
Or do they have gods to defend them other than Us? They are unable [even] to help themselves, nor can they be protected from Us.