إِنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا 98
Translations
Your god is only Allāh, except for whom there is no deity. He has encompassed all things in knowledge."
Transliteration
Innama ilahukumu-Allahu alladhi la ilaha illa huwa waasi'a kulla shay'in 'ilman
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the fundamental principle of Tawhid (Islamic monotheism), declaring that Allah alone is worthy of worship and that none deserves divinity except Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'His knowledge encompasses all things' refers to Allah's infinite omniscience, which is presented as evidence of His absolute oneness and perfection. Al-Tabari notes this statement refutes polytheism and idol worship, asserting that only the All-Knowing God deserves worship, as He alone possesses complete knowledge of all creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Surah Taha concerning Prophet Moses and the golden calf incident. It serves as a direct refutation of the Children of Israel's worship of the calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai. The broader context emphasizes Allah's unity in response to the people's deviation into shirk (polytheism), making this declaration of tawhid a corrective message to those who abandoned monotheism.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever says La ilaha illallah (there is none worthy of worship except Allah) sincerely enters Paradise' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari states that 'the best supplication is to seek forgiveness and the best remembrance is La ilaha illallah,' emphasizing the centrality of this declaration.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith begins with sincere acknowledgment that only Allah deserves worship and that His infinite knowledge encompasses everything we do—a reminder to align our actions with consciousness of Divine awareness. For believers, it provides spiritual strength that Allah's complete knowledge of our intentions and deeds should inspire taqwa (God-consciousness) and sincere devotion.
Related Ayahs
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ
And for every [religious] community We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allāh over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muḥammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
إِنَّ فِى ٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَمَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَّقُونَ
Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day and [in] what Allāh has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allāh.
وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And whether you die or are killed, unto Allāh you will be gathered.
وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَـٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
And [I swear] by Allāh, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."