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.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief from Allāh. Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allāh except the disbelieving people."
وَإِن كَانَ قَمِيصُهُۥ قُدَّ مِن دُبُرٍ فَكَذَبَتْ وَهُوَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful."
وَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ أَبُوهُم مَّا كَانَ يُغْنِى عَنْهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا حَاجَةً فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا ۚ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَذُو عِلْمٍ لِّمَا عَلَّمْنَـٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And when they entered from where their father had ordered them, it did not avail them against Allāh at all except [it was] a need [i.e., concern] within the soul of Jacob, which he satisfied. And indeed, he was a possessor of knowledge because of what We had taught him, but most of the people do not know.
قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِۦٓ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِى رَبِّىٓ ۚ إِنِّى تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
He said, "You will not receive food that is provided to you except that I will inform you of its interpretation before it comes to you. That is from what my Lord has taught me. Indeed, I have left the religion of a people who do not believe in Allāh, and they, in the Hereafter, are disbelievers.