وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ 36
Translations
And [the believers among] those to whom We have given the [previous] Scripture rejoice at what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], but among the [opposing] factions are those who deny part of it [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Say, "I have only been commanded to worship Allāh and not associate [anything] with Him. To Him I invite, and to Him is my return."
Transliteration
Wa allatheena ataynahum al-kitaba yafrahoon bima unzila ilayka wa min al-ahzabi man yunkiru ba'dahu qul innama umirt an a'buda Allaha wa la ushriku bihi ilayhi ad'u wa ilayhi ma'ab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how some People of the Book (Jews and Christians) rejoice at the Qur'an revealed to Muhammad, while other groups (al-ahzab—the various factions of disbelievers) reject parts of it. The Prophet is then commanded to proclaim that he has been ordered to worship Allah alone without associating partners with Him, and to call all people to this monotheistic path. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this reflects the diversity of responses to the message: sincere believers accepting it entirely, and those with hardened hearts rejecting it selectively or wholly.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Medina and addresses the divided responses to the Islamic message in that multicultural society. The ayah specifically reflects the Medinan context where the Prophet encountered both receptive believers from the People of the Book (such as 'Abdullah ibn Salam) and various pagan Arab tribes (ahzab) who rejected the message. It emphasizes the Prophet's unwavering commitment to pure monotheism regardless of acceptance or rejection.
Related Hadiths
The hadith from Sahih Muslim where 'Abdullah ibn Salam converted to Islam upon hearing the Qur'an exemplifies those who rejoice at revelation. Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the Prophet's statement, 'I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,' reflects the theme of single-minded devotion to pure tawheed mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the path of truth will always encounter mixed responses—some will accept wholeheartedly while others resist—yet the believer's responsibility is to remain steadfast in pure worship of Allah alone and invite others to this path with conviction, not to be swayed by rejection or opposition. It reminds us that our success is measured by sincerity and obedience to Allah, not by universal acceptance of our message.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ
And We have already sent messengers before you and assigned to them wives and descendants. And it was not for a messenger to come with a sign except by permission of Allāh. For every term is a decree.
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْـَٔاصَالِ ۩
And to Allāh prostrates whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons.
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
They impatiently urge you to bring about evil before good, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments [to what they demand]. And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.