ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 126
Translations
Allāh, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"
Transliteration
Allahu rabbukum wa rabb aba'ikum al-awwalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Prophet Salih's address to the people of Thamud, where he calls them to worship Allah alone—the Lord of the present generation and of their ancestors before them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Salih is reminding them of the continuity of monotheism throughout history, that the same God worshipped by their forefathers is the one calling them now, thereby refuting their polytheistic practices and idol worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah As-Saffat's narrative about the prophets and their struggles against their peoples. Specifically, it is part of Salih's preaching to Thamud, addressing their rejection of tawhid (monotheism). The surah was revealed in Mecca and uses these prophetic stories to strengthen Prophet Muhammad's resolve against Quraish opposition.
Related Hadiths
The concept of tawhid emphasized here relates to the hadith: 'The greatest right of Allah upon His servants is that they should worship Him alone and associate nothing with Him' (Sahih Bukhari, Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith 'Whoever dies without associating partners with Allah enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim) reflects the core message of this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that monotheism is not a novel concept but an eternal principle upheld by all prophets and their communities throughout history. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining pure belief in Allah's oneness and recognizing that surrendering to false gods—whether literal idols or worldly desires—contradicts the message carried by all messengers.