وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ 17
Translations
But those who have avoided ṭāghūt, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allāh - for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants
Transliteration
Wa alladhina ijtanaboo at-taghoot an ya'budooha wa anaaboo ilallah lahum ul-bushra, fa bashshir 'ibadi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who abstain from worshipping idols and false deities (taghoot) and turn back in repentance to Allah, for them is the glad tidings (of Paradise and divine mercy). Ibn Kathir explains that avoiding taghoot encompasses rejecting all forms of false worship, whether idols, tyrants, or desires that lead away from Allah's guidance. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this rejection must be accompanied by sincere turning (inabah) to Allah, making it an active commitment rather than mere avoidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when Muslims faced intense pressure to abandon monotheism and return to idolatry. The surah addresses the fundamental Islamic principle of tawheed (monotheism) and encourages believers to reject polytheistic practices. The context reflects the struggle of early Muslims who rejected cultural and societal pressure to participate in idol worship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever says there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and disbelieves in what is worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and blood are protected' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The strongest word is 'There is no deity except Allah' (la ilaha illallah)' reinforces the theme of rejecting taghoot through monotheistic declaration.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires both negation of false worship and affirmation of Allah's oneness through sincere repentance and devotion. For believers today, this means consciously rejecting anything—whether material, social, or ideological—that competes with absolute loyalty to Allah, and consistently directing one's heart back to Him.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُۥ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلَهُۥ نِعْمَةً مِّنْهُ نَسِىَ مَا كَانَ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ مِن قَبْلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ تَمَتَّعْ بِكُفْرِكَ قَلِيلًا ۖ إِنَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلنَّارِ
And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him [alone]; then when He bestows on him a favor from Himself, he forgets Him whom he called upon before, and he attributes to Allāh equals to mislead [people] from His way. Say, "Enjoy your disbelief for a little; indeed, you are of the companions of the Fire."
وَٱلَّذِى جَآءَ بِٱلصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِۦٓ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ
And the one who has brought the truth [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] and [they who] believed in it - those are the righteous.
وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ مَطْوِيَّـٰتٌۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have not appraised Allāh with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ
They will have canopies [i.e., layers] of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allāh threatens [i.e., warns] His servants. O My servants, then fear Me.