وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ 12
Translations
And I have been commanded to be the first [among you] of the Muslims."
Transliteration
Wa-umrtu li-an akūna awwala al-muslimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ affirms that he has been commanded by Allah to be among the first to submit to His will and embrace Islam. This declaration emphasizes the Prophet's position as the foremost believer and exemplar of submission to Allah's commands. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as the Prophet's commitment to absolute obedience and his role as the leader of the Muslim community, setting the standard for faith and practice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan surah addressing the monotheistic message. The broader context (39:11-12) shows Prophet Muhammad ﷺ being commanded to worship Allah alone and be the first to submit, establishing the foundational principle that leadership in faith begins with personal submission and obedience to divine commands.
Related Hadiths
Related to the concept of the Prophet's exemplary submission: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), and 'Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent pattern to follow' (Quran 33:21), which emphasizes following the Prophet's example.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true leadership and honor come from sincere submission to Allah's will, and that we should emulate the Prophet ﷺ by prioritizing our obedience to Allah above all else. It reminds us that being 'first' in faith means embodying its principles consistently in thought, word, and deed.