قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّى بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ 29
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you direct yourselves [to the Qiblah] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -
Transliteration
Qul amara rabbi bil-qisti wa aqeemoo wujoohakum inda kulli masjid wad'oohu mukhlisin lahu ad-deen, kama bada'akum ta'oodoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet to declare that his Lord has ordained justice and equity in all matters, and directs believers to establish proper conduct and presence in prayer, calling upon Allah with sincere devotion and undivided religious commitment. Ibn Kathir explains that 'establish your faces' means to direct yourselves with full presence and sincerity at every place of prayer, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the command encompasses both outward compliance with divine law and inward spiritual purification, as the final clause reminds us that just as Allah originated creation, we shall return to Him for judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-A'raf, which addresses fundamental Islamic principles. It comes within the context of the surah's broader discussion of divine guidance, the nature of prophethood, and mankind's accountability. The ayah emphasizes core Islamic principles of justice and sincere worship that formed the foundation of early Islamic teaching.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of deeds is prayer performed at its proper time.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 170). Also relevant: 'Verily, Allah does not look at your bodies or wealth, but He looks at your hearts and actions.' (Sahih Muslim 2564) - emphasizing the sincerity (ikhlas) mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic practice must be rooted in two pillars: adherence to justice and truth in all worldly dealings, and sincere, undivided devotion to Allah in worship. For modern believers, this reminds us that piety is not merely ritualistic but requires both ethical integrity in daily life and genuine spiritual presence in our relationship with the Divine.
Related Ayahs
وَٱخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُۥ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَـٰتِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّـٰىَ ۖ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَهْدِى مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَا ۖ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْغَـٰفِرِينَ
And Moses chose from his people seventy men for Our appointment. And when the earthquake seized them, he said, "My Lord, if You had willed, You could have destroyed them before and me [as well]. Would You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is not but Your trial by which You send astray whom You will and guide whom You will. You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.
قَالَ يَـٰمُوسَىٰٓ إِنِّى ٱصْطَفَيْتُكَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِرِسَـٰلَـٰتِى وَبِكَلَـٰمِى فَخُذْ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُكَ وَكُن مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
[Allāh] said, "O Moses, I have chosen you over the people with My messages and My words [to you]. So take what I have given you and be among the grateful."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِى قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِىٍّ إِلَّآ أَخَذْنَآ أَهْلَهَا بِٱلْبَأْسَآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ
And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allāh].
قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know.