وَلَا يَصُدُّنَّكَ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ بَعْدَ إِذْ أُنزِلَتْ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 87
Translations
And never let them avert you from the verses of Allāh after they have been revealed to you. And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allāh.
Transliteration
Wa lā yaṣiddunnaka ʿan āyāti -llāhi baʿda idhā unzilat ilayka wa -dʿu ilā rabbika wa lā takūnanna mina -lmushrikīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a Divine command to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) not to be turned away from the signs of Allah after they have been revealed to him, and to continue calling people to his Lord without becoming among those who associate partners with Allah. Ibn Kathir explains that this verse addresses the pressure the Meccan polytheists placed on the Prophet to abandon his message, emphasizing that steadfastness in conveying the Quranic revelation is essential and incompatible with shirk (polytheism). Al-Qurtubi notes this serves as an affirmation of the Prophet's divine mission despite opposition.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the end of Surah Al-Qasas, which narrates stories of prophets and their struggles against opposition. The broader context relates to the Meccan period when the Prophet faced intense persecution and pressure from the Quraysh to compromise his monotheistic message. The verse reinforces the theme of the surah: prophets persevere in calling to Allah despite rejection and hostility.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best jihad is a word of truth spoken before a tyrannical ruler.' This aligns with the ayah's command to call to Allah despite opposition. Additionally, Tirmidhi records that the Prophet emphasized unwavering commitment to the message regardless of external pressures.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that commitment to Allah's signs and message must remain unshakeable despite social pressure, ridicule, or persecution from non-believers. It reminds us that spreading monotheism and truth requires courage, consistency, and refusal to compromise core Islamic principles for acceptance or comfort.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرِى فَأَوْقِدْ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجْعَل لِّى صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."
مَن جَآءَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُۥ خَيْرٌ مِّنْهَا ۖ وَمَن جَآءَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى ٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it; and whoever comes with an evil deed - then those who did evil deeds will not be recompensed except [as much as] what they used to do.
وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا يُنصَرُونَ
And We made them leaders inviting to the Fire, and on the Day of Resurrection they will not be helped.
فَخَسَفْنَا بِهِۦ وَبِدَارِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ فَمَا كَانَ لَهُۥ مِن فِئَةٍ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنتَصِرِينَ
And We caused the earth to swallow him and his home. And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor was he of those who [could] defend themselves.