قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 26
Translations
[Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."
Transliteration
Qāla rabbukum wa rabbu ābā'ikum al-awwalīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) responds to Pharaoh's demand to identify his Lord by affirming that their Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth and the Lord of their forefathers from ancient times. This statement emphasizes the oneness of Allah across all generations and cultures, rejecting Pharaoh's polytheistic claims. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Musa is asserting the continuity of monotheistic belief from the earliest prophets, demonstrating that the worship of the One God is not something new but has been the universal truth throughout history.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that recounts various prophetic narratives including that of Musa and Pharaoh. The context is Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh, where Pharaoh arrogantly questions Musa about his Lord, and Musa responds with this decisive affirmation of divine monotheism, establishing the fundamental theological divide between them.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of tawhid (oneness of God) emphasized here: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'The best of supplications is 'La ilaha illallah' (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah)' - a principle affirmed by all prophets including Musa. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet taught that belief in the God of all the forefathers is part of true faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith in the One God transcends time and culture—it is not confined to one era but has been the truth throughout human history. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that monotheistic faith connects us to the legacy of all righteous forefathers and prophets, and that standing firm on this conviction, even against worldly opposition, is a core spiritual principle.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّمَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to Him]?"
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَٔلُونَ
He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
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."