قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ ۗ قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 14
Translations
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?" Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first [among you] who submit [to Allāh] and [was commanded], 'Do not ever be of the polytheists."
Transliteration
Qul a-ghayra Allahi attakhidhu waliyyan fatira al-samawati wa-al-ardi wa-huwa yut'imu wa la yut'amu. Qul inni umirtu an akuna awwala man aslama wa-la takununna mina al-mushrikeen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is commanded to proclaim that he will not take any protector or master besides Allah, the Creator of the heavens and earth. The description of Allah as 'the One who provides sustenance but is not in need of sustenance' emphasizes His complete self-sufficiency and absolute power. Ibn Kathir notes this ayah establishes the principle of pure monotheism (tawhid), rejecting all forms of partnership with Allah, and the Prophet is commanded to be the first to submit completely to this truth while warning others against associating partners with Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense pressure from the Quraysh to abandon monotheism and accept their idolatrous practices. It comes within a broader section of Surah Al-An'am addressing the fundamental principle of Tawhid and the rejection of false deities, serving as a direct response to pagan arguments for intercession through idols.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Muslim 93:1) relates to the warning against shirk at the end of this ayah. Additionally, the Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim: 'I am most self-sufficient of all beings' reflects the attribute of Allah mentioned in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true loyalty and protection come only from Allah, and that serving any authority besides Him—whether false gods, rulers, or other beings—contradicts the essence of Islamic faith. For contemporary Muslims, it reinforces that ultimate trust, reliance, and allegiance belong solely to the Creator, not to worldly powers or material means.