قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُۥ دِينِى 14
Translations
Say, "Allāh [alone] do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion,
Transliteration
Qul Allaha a'budu mukhlisan lahu dinee
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that he worships only Allah with sincere devotion, making his entire religion exclusively for Allah's pleasure. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah establishes the fundamental principle of tawhid (monotheism) and ikhlas (sincerity), rejecting any association of partners with Allah in worship or intention. Al-Tabari notes that 'mukhlisan' (sincere) signifies purity of heart and action, free from riya (showing off) or seeking worldly gain through religious practice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Az-Zumar (The Troops), a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced intense pressure from the Quraysh to compromise his message. The surah addresses the core issue of religious sincerity and absolute monotheism in response to polytheistic practices and false gods worshipped by the Arabs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is that made with sincerity (ikhlas)' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Also related is the hadith: 'Actions are judged by intentions, and each person shall have what they intended' (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), emphasizing that sincere intention is essential in all acts of worship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true worship must be motivated by sincere devotion to Allah alone, free from worldly desires, showing off, or seeking approval from others. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to regularly examine their intentions and ensure their religious practices stem from a pure heart solely dedicated to pleasing Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۖ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, "Worship Allāh and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا
Indeed, Allāh holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَـٰشِفَـٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَـٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ
Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.