ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 126
Translations
Allāh, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"
Transliteration
Allahu rabbukum wa rabb aba'ikum al-awwalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Prophet Salih's address to the people of Thamud, where he calls them to worship Allah alone—the Lord of the present generation and of their ancestors before them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Salih is reminding them of the continuity of monotheism throughout history, that the same God worshipped by their forefathers is the one calling them now, thereby refuting their polytheistic practices and idol worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's narrative about the prophets and their struggles against their peoples. Specifically, it is part of Salih's preaching to Thamud, addressing their rejection of tawhid (monotheism). The surah was revealed in Mecca and uses these prophetic stories to strengthen Prophet Muhammad's resolve against Quraish opposition.
Related Hadiths
The concept of tawhid emphasized here relates to the hadith: 'The greatest right of Allah upon His servants is that they should worship Him alone and associate nothing with Him' (Sahih Bukhari, Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever dies without associating partners with Allah enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim) reflects the core message of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that monotheism is not a novel concept but an eternal principle upheld by all prophets and their communities throughout history. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining pure belief in Allah's oneness and recognizing that surrendering to false gods—whether literal idols or worldly desires—contradicts the message carried by all messengers.
Related Ayahs
إِن تَدْعُوهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُوا۟ دُعَآءَكُمْ وَلَوْ سَمِعُوا۟ مَا ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُونَ بِشِرْكِكُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُنَبِّئُكَ مِثْلُ خَبِيرٍ
If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Aware [of all matters].
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.
لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَآ ءَالِهَةٌ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا ۚ فَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَرْشِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Had there been within them [i.e., the heavens and earth] gods besides Allāh, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allāh, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe.
لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ
No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."