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
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.
قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."
لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility].
وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ ۘ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۥ ۚ لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
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.