فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُعَذَّبِينَ 213
Translations
So do not invoke with Allāh another deity and [thus] be among the punished.
Transliteration
Fala tad'u ma'a Allahi ilahan akhara fatakuna mina al-mu'aththabin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a direct prohibition against associating partners with Allah (shirk) and a stern warning of divine punishment for those who commit this grave sin. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this command addresses all humanity, particularly polytheists, asserting that invoking or worshipping any deity alongside Allah will result in severe torment. The ayah underscores the absolute monotheism (tawhid) that is the foundation of Islamic faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Prophet Muhammad's mission when polytheism was rampant in Arabia. The surah addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the Prophet and their persistence in idolatry, making this verse a timely warning against shirk and encouragement toward strict monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' (Sahih Bukhari 6871). Additionally, 'Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire' (Sahih Muslim 93).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that sincere devotion to Allah alone is non-negotiable and central to salvation; any compromise with shirk—whether in belief, worship, or obedience—severs one's connection to divine mercy and invites divine wrath. For modern Muslims, it emphasizes guarding against subtle forms of shirk such as placing excessive trust in created beings, wealth, or status above reliance on Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ
And for every [religious] community We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allāh over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. For your god is one God, so to Him submit. And, [O Muḥammad], give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
ٱتَّبِعْ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Follow, [O Muḥammad], what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no deity except Him - and turn away from those who associate others with Allāh.
إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Indeed, I have relied upon Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds it by its forelock [i.e., controls it]. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.