إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ رَبِّى وَرَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ 64
Translations
Indeed, Allāh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is a straight path."
Transliteration
Inna Allaha huwa rabbi wa rabbukum fa'buduh, hatha siratum mustaqim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) testifies to the oneness of Allah and calls his followers to worship Allah alone, establishing that despite the differences in prophets and nations, there is one Lord worthy of worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this statement from Jesus refutes the false claims of those who associate partners with Allah and demonstrates the core message of all prophets—the call to pure monotheism (tawhid). The phrase 'this is the straight path' affirms that worshipping Allah alone is the only correct way to spiritual success and salvation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zukhruf, a Meccan surah revealed during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced intense opposition from the Quraysh regarding the concept of tawhid. The ayah is placed within a passage where Jesus is mentioned as a servant and messenger of Allah, refuting Christian claims of his divinity and reinforcing the Islamic principle that all prophets called humanity to the worship of one God.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The first thing for which the servants of Allah will be called to account on the Day of Judgment will be prayer.' (Tirmidhi) This relates to the command to worship Allah. Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Bukhari) emphasizes the importance of pure monotheism conveyed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that despite cultural, temporal, or prophetic differences, the fundamental message to humanity remains unchanged: worship Allah alone and follow the straight path. For modern believers, this emphasizes the need to return to pure monotheism and to recognize that true guidance lies in submitting to Allah's will without adding innovations or associating partners with Him.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ
[Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings,"
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلسَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌ مَّاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا ۖ وَمَا تَدْرِى نَفْسٌۢ بِأَىِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۢ
Indeed, Allāh [alone] has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul perceives what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul perceives in what land it will die. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware.
وَٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَكُمْ وَلَآ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَنصُرُونَ
And those you call upon besides Him are unable to help you, nor can they help themselves."