فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ ٱلْقَيِّمِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌ لَّا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصَّدَّعُونَ 43
Translations
So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the correct religion before a Day comes from Allāh of which there is no repelling. That Day, they will be divided.
Transliteration
Fa-aqim wajhaka lil-dīni al-qayyim min qabli an ya'tiya yawmun lā maraddah lahu min Allāh. Yawma'idhin yasdda'ūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet (peace be upon him) and believers to dedicate themselves wholly to the straight religion (Islam) before the Day of Judgment arrives—a day whose coming cannot be averted by Allah's will. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'establishing one's face toward the religion' (إقام الوجه) means turning one's entire being, intention, and actions toward monotheism and obedience to Allah. On that inevitable Day, people will be separated into distinct groups—the saved and the punished—emphasizing the urgency of righteous devotion in this life.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the conclusion of Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans), a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced considerable opposition. The broader surah discusses signs of Allah's power and the Hour, making this ayah a fitting exhortation to steadfastness in faith before the Day of Judgment comes.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), reflecting the importance of commitment to divine guidance. Additionally, 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13) emphasizes total dedication to the faith's principles.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that our time on earth is limited and the Day of Judgment is certain; therefore, we must prioritize sincere devotion to Allah and His straight path above all worldly distractions. Our commitment to Islam should be total and unwavering, made with full consciousness that we will stand before Allah to account for our deeds.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَلَئِن جِئْتَهُم بِـَٔايَةٍ لَّيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُبْطِلُونَ
And We have certainly presented to the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example. But, [O Muḥammad], if you should bring them a sign, the disbelievers will surely say, "You [believers] are but falsifiers."
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّتِى فَطَرَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the fiṭrah of Allāh upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of Allāh. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ ۗ لِلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِنۢ بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Within three to nine years. To Allāh belongs the command [i.e., decree] before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice
ٱللَّهُ يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Allāh begins creation; then He will repeat it; then to Him you will be returned.