يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 21
Translations
O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous -
Transliteration
Ya ayyuhan-nasu'budoo rabbakumul-ladhee khalaqakum walladheen min qablikum la'allakum tattaqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a universal call to all humanity to worship Allah alone, the One who created them and all previous generations, as a means to attain taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this foundational command establishes the primary purpose of human existence—servitude to Allah—while the phrase 'those before you' emphasizes the continuity of this message across all prophetic traditions. Al-Qurtubi notes that the expected outcome 'that you may become righteous' indicates that sincere worship naturally cultivates God-consciousness and moral excellence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears early in Surah Al-Baqarah (the second surah of the Quran), which is the longest chapter and was revealed in Medina. It follows the opening verses about the Quran being guidance, and serves as a direct address to all of humanity establishing the fundamental principle of Tawheed (monotheism) and the purpose of creation—a fitting introduction to the comprehensive guidance the surah provides.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The first thing for which people will be called to account on the Day of Judgment is prayer' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized: 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim), which relates to the exclusive worship commanded in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that worship is not merely ritual performance but a transformative practice meant to cultivate consciousness of Allah and moral righteousness. In modern times, it invites all people—regardless of background—to recognize their shared purpose and orientation toward the Divine, making it a call to both spiritual awakening and ethical responsibility.
Related Ayahs
كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَآ أُمَمٌ لِّتَتْلُوَا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ
Thus have We sent you to a community before which [other] communities have passed on so you might recite to them that which We revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord; there is no deity except Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him is my return."
أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا
Did they not see that it could not return to them any speech [i.e., response] and that it did not possess for them any harm or benefit?
وَٱلشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ سَيَهْدِينِ
Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me."