لَّـٰكِنَّا۠ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا 38
Translations
But as for me, He is Allāh, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.
Transliteration
Laakinна huwa Allahu rabbi wa laa ushriku bi rabbi ahadan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah represents the declaration of the believing servant in Surah Al-Kahf, affirming absolute monotheism and rejecting all forms of polytheism. The speaker emphasizes that despite worldly possessions and status, only Allah is his true Lord, and he will not associate any partner with Allah in worship or obedience. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this reflects the profound tawhid (Islamic monotheism) that should characterize the believer's response to material wealth and social pressure.
Revelation Context
This verse appears in the dialogue between two men with gardens (Ayat 32-44), where one possesses great wealth and is led astray by arrogance, while the other maintains sincere faith despite having less. The context illustrates how true richness lies in monotheistic belief rather than material abundance, a theme central to Surah Al-Kahf's teachings about trials and tests.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, Paradise becomes mandatory for him' (Sahih Muslim 32). This hadith reinforces the centrality of the tawhid affirmed in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True wealth and honor come from sincere belief in Allah alone, not from material possessions or social status. Believers should steadfastly declare their monotheism and refuse to compromise their faith regardless of worldly circumstances or societal pressure.
Related Ayahs
فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُعَذَّبِينَ
So do not invoke with Allāh another deity and [thus] be among the punished.
أَمَّن يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَمَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allāh? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ عِبَادٌ أَمْثَالُكُمْ ۖ فَٱدْعُوهُمْ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Indeed, those you [polytheists] call upon besides Allāh are servants [i.e., creations] like you. So call upon them and let them respond to you, if you should be truthful.
وَٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْفُلْكِ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ
And who created the species, all of them, and has made for you of ships and animals those which you mount