قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 108
Translations
Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allāh with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allāh; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."
Transliteration
Qul hadhihi sabiliy ad'u ilallahi 'ala basiratin ana wa mani ittaba'ani wa subhanallaahi wa ma ana minal mushrikeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to declare that his method of calling people to Allah is based on clear knowledge and insight ('ala basiratin), and this applies both to himself and to those who follow him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that da'wah (Islamic call) must be rooted in sound understanding of the Quran and Sunnah, not mere emotion or conjecture. The ayah concludes with a clear disassociation from polytheism (shirk), affirming that monotheistic belief is fundamental to this path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Yusuf and reflects the broader thematic context of the surah, which emphasizes patience, divine guidance, and steadfast monotheism. It serves as a general directive for all Muslims regarding the proper methodology of calling others to Islam with knowledge and sincerity, transcending the specific narrative of Prophet Joseph.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of those who follow him, without any decrease in their rewards' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Convey from me even if it is one ayah' (Sahih Bukhari), stressing knowledge-based da'wah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that inviting others to Islam requires both personal knowledge and conviction ('basiratin'), not blind imitation or emotional appeals. For modern believers, it emphasizes that spreading Islamic teachings must be grounded in sound understanding and authentic sources, while maintaining unwavering commitment to monotheism and distinguishing oneself from all forms of associating partners with Allah.