إِنِّىٓ إِذًا لَّفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 24
Translations
Indeed, I would then be in manifest error.
Transliteration
Innee izan lafee dalalim mubeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the speaker's acknowledgment that to abandon the worship of Allah alone and associate partners with Him would be manifest misguidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this statement reflects the logical conclusion that rejecting monotheism leads to clear error and spiritual loss. The ayah emphasizes that tawheed (Islamic monotheism) is the only path to guidance, and any deviation from it constitutes obvious straying.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Ya-Sin's discussion of monotheism and the call to worship Allah alone. It reflects the broader Meccan theme of refuting polytheism and emphasizing the necessity of pure monotheism. The verse is part of a dialogue addressing those who reject the message of tawheed.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk).' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah records that the Prophet emphasized that tawheed is the foundation of all righteousness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true guidance lies solely in the worship of Allah without partners, and any deviation from this principle represents clear misguidance. In modern context, it encourages Muslims to examine their intentions and ensure their devotion is purely for Allah's sake, free from worldly desires or societal pressures that might compromise monotheistic belief.
Related Ayahs
وَأَنِ ٱعْبُدُونِى ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path.
وَسْـَٔلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رُّسُلِنَآ أَجَعَلْنَا مِن دُونِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ءَالِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ
And ask those We sent before you of Our messengers; have We made besides the Most Merciful deities to be worshipped?
تُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ ۖ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ ۖ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account [i.e., limit or measure]."
مَا ٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِن وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُۥ مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ ۚ إِذًا لَّذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَـٰهٍۭ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
Allāh has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have [sought to] overcome others. Exalted is Allāh above what they describe [concerning Him].