وَأَنِ ٱعْبُدُونِى ۚ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ 61
Translations
And that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path.
Transliteration
Wa-an u'buduni. Hadha siratun mustaqim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the servants to worship Him alone, declaring that this monotheistic devotion is the straight path. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah encapsulates the central message of all prophets—that sincere worship of Allah alone, free from shirk (associating partners with Allah), constitutes the only true and righteous path to salvation. This command appears within the context of Ya-Sin's warnings about rejecting the messengers and idolatry.
Revelation Context
Surah Ya-Sin is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of the Prophet's mission when polytheism and idol worship were prevalent in Arabia. This particular ayah is part of a broader passage warning against following desires and associating partners with Allah, emphasizing the unified message that all of Allah's messengers brought to their peoples.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The first thing for which people will be called to account on the Day of Judgment is prayer, and the first thing of their deeds for which they will be rewarded is charity' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever says: there is no god but Allah, sincerely from his heart, will enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari) relates directly to the essence of worship mentioned here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true success and guidance lie exclusively in the sincere worship of Allah alone, free from distraction and deviation. In our modern context, it calls us to examine whether our actions, intentions, and devotion are purely for Allah's sake, or whether worldly concerns and desires have compromised our spiritual commitment.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ ٱلْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَٱغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allāh] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], "Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً ۖ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِىَ وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِى ۗ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ فَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur’ān] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـٰكِفُونَ
When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.