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
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.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ عَـٰلِمَ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "O Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ."
لَّوْ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا لَّٱصْطَفَىٰ مِمَّا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ ۖ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
If Allāh had intended to take a son, He could have chosen from what He creates whatever He willed. Exalted is He; He is Allāh, the One, the Prevailing.
فَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ ضُرٌّ دَعَانَا ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلْنَـٰهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنَّا قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أُوتِيتُهُۥ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍۭ ۚ بَلْ هِىَ فِتْنَةٌ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when adversity touches man, he calls upon Us; then when We bestow on him a favor from Us, he says, "I have only been given it because of [my] knowledge." Rather, it is a trial, but most of them do not know.