إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَٱعْبُدِ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ 2
Translations
Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book, [O Muḥammad], in truth. So worship Allāh, [being] sincere to Him in religion.
Transliteration
Inna anzalna ilayka al-kitaba bil-haqqi fa'a'bud-allaha mukhlisan lahu ad-din
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah informs the Prophet Muhammad that the Qur'an has been revealed to him with truth and complete guidance, and commands him to worship Allah alone with sincere devotion, dedicating all religious practices exclusively to Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this ayah establishes the foundation of Islamic monotheism (tawhid)—that worship and obedience must be purely for Allah's sake, free from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and worldly intentions. The revelation of the Book with truth serves as both evidence of Allah's oneness and a practical guide for believers to achieve sincere devotion.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zumar is a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense opposition to the Prophet's message. This ayah appears early in the surah and sets the spiritual and theological framework for the entire chapter, addressing the core challenge facing believers: maintaining sincere faith amid societal pressure and false beliefs. The context reflects the Prophet's need to reassure both himself and his followers of the certainty and truth of the divine revelation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet said: 'The most beloved deed to Allah is the one done with sincere intention (ikhlas), even if it is small' - a hadith emphasizing the principle of sincere devotion mentioned in this ayah. Additionally, Hadith Qudsi: 'I am as My servant expects Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me' (Sahih Bukhari) relates to the sincere devotion and consciousness of Allah that this ayah encourages.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true worship requires both correct belief in Allah's oneness and sincere intention free from hypocrisy or worldly motives. For modern believers, it serves as a powerful reminder to constantly examine their intentions and ensure their actions—whether in prayer, charity, or daily conduct—are performed solely for Allah's pleasure, not for recognition, status, or personal gain.
Related Ayahs
لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ ٱلثَّرَىٰ
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ
And He is Allāh, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَلَا يَضُرُّهُمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱلْكَافِرُ عَلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ ظَهِيرًا
But they worship rather than Allāh that which does not benefit them or harm them, and the disbeliever is ever, against his Lord, an assistant [to Satan].
قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "To whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth?" Say, "To Allāh." He has decreed upon Himself mercy. He will surely assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who will lose themselves [that Day] do not believe.