أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ 2
Translations
[Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allāh. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings,"
Transliteration
Allaa ta'budoo illa Allaha innani lakum minhu nadheerun wa basheer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah contains the core message of Prophet Hud to his people: the command to worship Allah alone and reject all forms of polytheism and idolatry. Hud presents himself as a warner (nadhir) sent to caution against divine punishment and a bearer of good news (bashir) for those who obey. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that this statement encapsulates the fundamental message of all prophets—tawhid (monotheism)—and establishes Hud's prophetic mission with both warning and glad tidings.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears near the beginning of Surah Hud, which is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheists of Mecca. It presents Hud's message to the Ad people as a historical example and parallel to the Prophet Muhammad's preaching to the Quraysh. The surah uses these past prophetic narratives to strengthen the Prophet and warn his contemporaries of the consequences of rejecting monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad said: 'I have been sent as a warner and a bringer of good news (nadhir wa mubashshir)' (Sahih Bukhari 4:56:667). This hadith directly mirrors Hud's characterization of his role, establishing the continuity of prophetic mission.
Themes
Key Lesson
The ayah reminds believers that the essence of all religions revealed by Allah is the worship of Him alone, free from idolatry. For modern Muslims, this serves as a call to examine their spiritual priorities and ensure that no worldly concerns, desires, or influences compete with their devotion to Allah.
Related Ayahs
ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess [i.e., slaves] any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ ۗ قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ ۖ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?" Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first [among you] who submit [to Allāh] and [was commanded], 'Do not ever be of the polytheists."
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
From the evil of that which He created
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ
Is it you who creates it, or are We the Creator?