قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ وَلَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُخْلِصُونَ 139
Translations
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Do you argue with us about Allāh while He is our Lord and your Lord? For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. And we are sincere [in deed and intention] to Him."
Transliteration
Qul atu-hajjunna fi-Allah wa-huwa rabbuna wa-rabbukum wa-lana a'maluna wa-lakum a'malukum wa-nahnu lahu mukhliṣun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to tell the People of the Book that there is no point in arguing about matters of faith, as Allah is the Lord of both Muslims and non-Muslims, and each group will be held accountable for their own deeds. The ayah emphasizes that Muslims' distinguishing characteristic is their sincere devotion to Allah alone (ikhlas), contrasting with those who associate partners with Him or reject His oneness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah establishes the principle that religious disputes are resolved not through endless debate but through sincere submission to Allah and righteous action.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the broader context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) and their disputes with Muslims over matters of belief, particularly regarding the nature of Allah and religious practices. It reflects the Medinan period when the Muslim community engaged in dialogue and debate with Christian and Jewish communities, addressing their objections to Islamic monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The concept of sincere devotion (ikhlas) is emphasized in the hadith from Sahih Bukhari: 'The best of deeds is that done with sincerity (ikhlas).' Related to accountability for deeds, Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Each of you is a shepherd and will be questioned about his flock.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith is demonstrated not through endless theological arguments with others, but through sincere submission to Allah and righteous deeds, reminding us that we are individually responsible before Allah for our actions regardless of others' beliefs. It encourages Muslims to focus on perfecting their own relationship with the Creator rather than becoming consumed by disputes, while maintaining clarity on the doctrine of pure monotheism.