أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ 2
Translations
[Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings,"
Transliteration
Allaa ta'budoo illa Allaha innani lakum minhu nadheerun wa basheer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the core message of Prophet Hud to his people: the command to worship Allah alone and reject all forms of polytheism and idolatry. Hud presents himself as a warner (nadhir) sent to caution against divine punishment and a bearer of good news (bashir) for those who obey. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that this statement encapsulates the fundamental message of all prophets—tawhid (monotheism)—and establishes Hud's prophetic mission with both warning and glad tidings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the beginning of Surah Hud, which is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca. It presents Hud's message to the Ad people as a historical example and parallel to the Prophet Muhammad's preaching to the Quraysh. The surah uses these past prophetic narratives to strengthen the Prophet and warn his contemporaries of the consequences of rejecting monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'I have been sent as a warner and a bringer of good news (nadhir wa mubashshir)' (Sahih Bukhari 4:56:667). This hadith directly mirrors Hud's characterization of his role, establishing the continuity of prophetic mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah reminds believers that the essence of all religions revealed by Allah is the worship of Him alone, free from idolatry. For modern Muslims, this serves as a call to examine their spiritual priorities and ensure that no worldly concerns, desires, or influences compete with their devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.
تَدْعُونَنِى لِأَكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَأُشْرِكَ بِهِۦ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ وَأَنَا۠ أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْغَفَّـٰرِ
You invite me to disbelieve in Allāh and associate with Him that of which I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.