قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ وَرَبُّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 26
Translations
[Moses] said, "Your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers."
Transliteration
Qāla rabbukum wa rabbu ābā'ikum al-awwalīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Musa (Moses) responds to Pharaoh's demand to identify his Lord by affirming that their Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth and the Lord of their forefathers from ancient times. This statement emphasizes the oneness of Allah across all generations and cultures, rejecting Pharaoh's polytheistic claims. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Musa is asserting the continuity of monotheistic belief from the earliest prophets, demonstrating that the worship of the One God is not something new but has been the universal truth throughout history.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that recounts various prophetic narratives including that of Musa and Pharaoh. The context is Musa's confrontation with Pharaoh, where Pharaoh arrogantly questions Musa about his Lord, and Musa responds with this decisive affirmation of divine monotheism, establishing the fundamental theological divide between them.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of tawhid (oneness of God) emphasized here: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'The best of supplications is 'La ilaha illallah' (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah)' - a principle affirmed by all prophets including Musa. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet taught that belief in the God of all the forefathers is part of true faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith in the One God transcends time and culture—it is not confined to one era but has been the truth throughout human history. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that monotheistic faith connects us to the legacy of all righteous forefathers and prophets, and that standing firm on this conviction, even against worldly opposition, is a core spiritual principle.
Related Ayahs
لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌۢ
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?"
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلشِّعْرَىٰ
And that it is He who is the Lord of Sirius.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ۩
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."