۞ شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحًا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِۦٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ ۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجْتَبِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ 13
Translations
He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein. Difficult for those who associate others with Allāh is that to which you invite them. Allāh chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back [to Him].
Transliteration
Shara'a lakum mina ad-dini ma wassaa bihi Noohan wa-alladhee awhayna ilayka wa-ma wassayna bihi Ibraheema wa-Moosaa wa-'Eesaa an aqeemoo ad-deena wa-la tatafarraqoo feehi. Kabura 'alaa al-mushrikeena ma tad'oohum ilayh. Allahu yajtabee ilayhi man yashaa wa-yahdee ilayhi man yuneeب.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the continuity and unity of divine guidance across all major prophets—Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad—emphasizing that Allah has prescribed one religion (ad-deen) for humanity centered on establishing faith and remaining united in it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the core message ('ayn ad-deen) shared by all prophets is monotheism and obedience to Allah, though specific laws (furu') differed according to their respective communities. The ayah concludes that disbelievers find this unified call burdensome, while Allah guides those who sincerely turn to Him in repentance (muneeб).
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to the Prophet Muhammad's message, this ayah addresses the polytheists' rejection of Islamic monotheism by demonstrating its historical authenticity through the prophetic tradition. The broader context of Surah Ash-Shuraa emphasizes consultation, mercy, and the universal principles underlying all divine revelation, providing both consolation to believers and a reasoned argument against disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'The prophets are of one lineage from the paternal side' (Sahih Bukhari 3442), affirming the spiritual kinship and shared mission among all messengers. Additionally, the Prophet emphasized unity in faith: 'A believer is like a brick to another believer, one strengthens the other' (Sahih Bukhari 481), reflecting the command not to split in religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are called to recognize the essential unity underlying all monotheistic traditions while avoiding sectarian divisions that weaken faith. The responsibility to establish religion ('aqeemoo ad-deen) is a shared obligation that requires both sincere intention and conscious effort to remain unified in core principles, knowing that guidance ultimately comes from Allah's will and our genuine turning toward Him.