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
لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
To Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not respond to them with a thing, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [from afar, calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will not reach it [thus]. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility].
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a warner, and there is not any deity except Allāh, the One, the Prevailing,
تَبَارَكَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ بُرُوجًا وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا سِرَٰجًا وَقَمَرًا مُّنِيرًا
Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars and placed therein a [burning] lamp and luminous moon.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.