بَلِ ٱللَّهَ فَٱعْبُدْ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ 66
Translations
Rather, worship [only] Allāh and be among the grateful.
Transliteration
Bali-llaha fa'abudu wa kun mina ash-shakirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and, by extension, all believers to worship Allah alone and to be among the grateful servants. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the word 'Bali' (نعم, rather/instead) introduces a correction to the preceding context, emphasizing exclusive monotheistic worship as the true path. Al-Qurtubi notes that gratitude (shukr) is paired with worship as the two pillars of sincere devotion, with thankfulness reflecting recognition of Allah's blessings and sustenance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zumar, which addresses the theme of pure monotheism and rejects polytheism. The surah emphasizes that worship belongs exclusively to Allah, and this particular ayah comes as a direct command to the believers to abandon all false worship and devote themselves entirely to Allah while maintaining constant gratitude for His favors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever is grateful, he is grateful to himself; and whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy' (Qur'an 31:12). Also related is the hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi where the Prophet emphasized that 'Gratitude is half of faith' (ash-Shukr nisf al-iman).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith and spiritual fulfillment come through singular devotion to Allah combined with constant gratitude for His blessings. In modern times, this reminds us to simplify our priorities by focusing on what truly matters—pleasing Allah—and cultivating a grateful heart regardless of life's circumstances.
Related Ayahs
سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا
Exalted is He and high above what they say by great sublimity.
يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ
[It will be] on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well], and they [i.e., all creatures] will come out before Allāh, the One, the Prevailing,
أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ تَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allāh? High is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
وَأَنْ أَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
And [commanded], 'Direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth, and never be of those who associate others with Allāh;