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
إِنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا
Your god is only Allāh, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."
أَئِفْكًا ءَالِهَةً دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ
Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allāh you desire?
وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَـٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And whoever invokes besides Allāh another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
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."