فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ 150
Translations
So fear Allāh and obey me.
Transliteration
Fattaqū Allāha wa-aṭīʿūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of the exhortation of the Prophet Shu'ayb (Shoaib) to his people, urging them to fear Allah and obey his message. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that this represents the essential call of every messenger: first establishing taqwa (God-consciousness) in the hearts, then obedience to the divine guidance. The command encompasses both inward piety and outward submission to the messenger's teachings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the narrative of Shu'ayb's preaching to the people of Madyan (Midian), who were known for cheating in commerce and trade. The broader surah presents various prophetic narratives, and this particular verse reflects the universal pattern of prophetic invitation: calling people to Allah-consciousness while demanding adherence to the messenger's guidance, a theme central to Meccan revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever obeys me has obeyed Allah, and whoever disobeys me has disobeyed Allah' (Sahih Bukhari 7137). Additionally, the hadith: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027) relates to obedience to divine guidance as conveyed through messengers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith requires a dual commitment: cultivating inner piety through taqwa while demonstrating outward obedience to divine guidance through the messengers. For modern believers, it emphasizes that fear of Allah must be accompanied by concrete action and adherence to Islamic teachings, making faith a lived reality rather than mere sentiment.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allāh, then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.
فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ
So fear Allāh and obey me.
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِى نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَـٰعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
And fear a Day when no soul will suffice for another soul at all, and no compensation will be accepted from it, nor will any intercession benefit it, nor will they be aided.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوا۟ ٱلرِّبَوٰٓا۟ أَضْعَـٰفًا مُّضَـٰعَفَةً ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allāh that you may be successful.