فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ 179
Translations
So fear Allāh and obey me.
Transliteration
Fattaqū Allāha wa-aṭīʿūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is the command of Prophet Shuʿayb (peace be upon him) to his people, urging them to fear Allah and obey him as His messenger. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this represents the core message of every prophet—calling people to Tawhīd (monotheism) and obedience to divine guidance. The conjunction of taqwā (God-consciousness) with obedience to the messenger demonstrates that true fear of Allah is manifested through accepting and following His prophets' teachings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the account of Prophet Shuʿayb's call to the people of Madyan in Surah Ash-Shu'ara. The broader surah presents stories of various prophets and their peoples, illustrating the consistent message of prophethood across generations. Shuʿayb's people were known for fraud in business and measurement, and his command reflects the universal prophetic call to reform both spiritual and moral conduct.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'None of you believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his children, and all people' (Sahih Bukhari 15). This hadith reflects the principle embedded in Shuʿayb's command—that obedience to the messenger is inseparable from true faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
True piety toward Allah is demonstrated through accepting and following the guidance of His messengers; believers must recognize that submission to prophetic teaching is an essential component of God-consciousness, not separate from it.