فَٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ 14
Translations
So invoke Allāh, [being] sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it.
Transliteration
Fad'u Allah mukhlisin lahu al-din wa law kariha al-kafirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to call upon Allah (make du'a) with sincere devotion and exclusive worship directed to Him alone, regardless of the disbelievers' disapproval or rejection. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that 'ikhlas' (sincerity) in din (religion/worship) means purifying one's intention and actions from shirk (associating partners with Allah), and that the believer must persist in this even when it contradicts the wishes of the disbelievers around them.
Revelation Context
Surah Ghafir addresses the tensions between believers and disbelievers in Mecca, where Muslims faced ridicule and opposition for their monotheistic worship. This ayah appears in the context of Pharaoh's court and the struggle between believers and those who reject Allah's message, encouraging Muslims to maintain their exclusive devotion to Allah despite social pressure.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best du'a is the du'a on the day of Arafah, and the best thing that I and the prophets before me have said is: 'There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, He is One and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion, to Him belongs all praise, and He has power over all things.' (Tirmidhi 3585). Also related: 'Whoever calls upon Allah sincerely, Allah will respond to him.' (Tirmidhi 3479)
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are encouraged to maintain sincere, undivided devotion to Allah in their prayers and worship, unconcerned with the mockery or displeasure of those who reject faith. This teaches that true strength comes from unwavering commitment to Allah's guidance, not from conforming to societal pressures that contradict Islamic principles.