وَأَذَٰنٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ يَوْمَ ٱلْحَجِّ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ۙ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 3
Translations
And [it is] an announcement from Allāh and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allāh is disassociated from the disbelievers, and [so is] His Messenger. So if you repent, that is best for you; but if you turn away - then know that you will not cause failure to Allāh. And give tidings to those who disbelieve of a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa adhānun min-Allāhi wa rasūlihī ilā an-nāsi yawm al-hajji al-akbar anna Allāha barī'un min al-mushrikīn wa rasūluh, fa-in tubtum fa-huwa khayrun lakum wa-in tawallītum fa-'lamū anna-kum ghayru mu'jizī Allāh, wa bashshir alladhīn kafarū bi-'adhābin alīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah conveys an announcement (adhān) from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the Day of the Greatest Pilgrimage (Day of Arafah during Hajj) that Allah disassociates Himself from the polytheists, and His Messenger does likewise. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the proclamation made by Ali ibn Abi Talib on behalf of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the Hajj of 9 AH, formally breaking the treaty with polytheists and announcing they could no longer perform Hajj alongside Muslims. The ayah then offers repentance as a path to salvation while warning that those who persist in disbelief cannot escape Allah's punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah, which deals with the breaking of treaties and a shift in Allah's command regarding polytheists. It specifically relates to the ninth year of Hijrah when the Prophet sent Ali ibn Abi Talib to announce at the Ka'bah that polytheists could no longer perform Hajj and that treaty obligations with them were voided, marking a decisive turn in the Islamic state's policy toward idolaters.
Related Hadiths
Imam At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Jarir report that Ali ibn Abi Talib was sent to announce Surah At-Tawbah on the Day of Arafah during the Hajj. Another relevant hadith in Sahih Bukhari describes how the Prophet (peace be upon him) declared at the Farewell Pilgrimage that polytheists would no longer be permitted near the Sacred Mosque.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Allah's judgment against those who reject His oneness is severe, the door of repentance remains open until the final hour; believers should recognize the seriousness of shirk (polytheism) and understand that avoiding divine punishment ultimately depends on turning back to Allah in sincere repentance and obedience.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allāh and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"
بَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allāh and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.
يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ مَا قَالُوا۟ وَلَقَدْ قَالُوا۟ كَلِمَةَ ٱلْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُوا۟ بَعْدَ إِسْلَـٰمِهِمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا نَقَمُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ أَنْ أَغْنَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۚ فَإِن يَتُوبُوا۟ يَكُ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَتَوَلَّوْا۟ يُعَذِّبْهُمُ ٱللَّهُ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۚ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مِن وَلِىٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
They swear by Allāh that they did not say [anything against the Prophet (ﷺ)] while they had said the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their [pretense of] Islām and planned that which they were not to attain. And they were not resentful except [for the fact] that Allāh and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty. So if they repent, it is better for them; but if they turn away, Allāh will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be for them on earth any protector or helper.
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.