وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَنَبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ 17
Translations
But those who have avoided ṭāghūt, lest they worship it, and turned back to Allāh - for them are good tidings. So give good tidings to My servants
Transliteration
Wa alladhina ijtanaboo at-taghoot an ya'budooha wa anaaboo ilallah lahum ul-bushra, fa bashshir 'ibadi
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who abstain from worshipping idols and false deities (taghoot) and turn back in repentance to Allah, for them is the glad tidings (of Paradise and divine mercy). Ibn Kathir explains that avoiding taghoot encompasses rejecting all forms of false worship, whether idols, tyrants, or desires that lead away from Allah's guidance. Al-Tabari emphasizes that this rejection must be accompanied by sincere turning (inabah) to Allah, making it an active commitment rather than mere avoidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zumar, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when Muslims faced intense pressure to abandon monotheism and return to idolatry. The surah addresses the fundamental Islamic principle of tawheed (monotheism) and encourages believers to reject polytheistic practices. The context reflects the struggle of early Muslims who rejected cultural and societal pressure to participate in idol worship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever says there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and disbelieves in what is worshipped besides Allah, his wealth and blood are protected' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, 'The strongest word is 'There is no deity except Allah' (la ilaha illallah)' reinforces the theme of rejecting taghoot through monotheistic declaration.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires both negation of false worship and affirmation of Allah's oneness through sincere repentance and devotion. For believers today, this means consciously rejecting anything—whether material, social, or ideological—that competes with absolute loyalty to Allah, and consistently directing one's heart back to Him.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ ٱلْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِى ٱلنَّارِ
Then, is one who has deserved the decree of punishment [to be guided]? Then, can you save one who is in the Fire?
بَلَىٰ قَدْ جَآءَتْكَ ءَايَـٰتِى فَكَذَّبْتَ بِهَا وَٱسْتَكْبَرْتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
But yes, there had come to you My verses, but you denied them and were arrogant, and you were among the disbelievers.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ عَـٰلِمَ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "O Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ."