رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَٱصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَـٰدَتِهِۦ ۚ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيًّا 65
Translations
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?"
Transliteration
Rabbu as-samawati wa-al-ardi wa-ma baynahuma fa-a'buduhu wa-astabirr li-ibadatihi hal ta'lamu lahu samiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Allah is the Lord of the heavens, the earth, and everything between them, and commands sincere worship of Him alone with patience and perseverance. The rhetorical question 'Do you know of any equal to Him?' emphasizes Allah's absolute uniqueness (tawhid) and that He has no peer or partner in His names and attributes. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a powerful refutation of polytheism and a call to recognize Allah's singular lordship and divinity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Maryam, a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islamic preaching in Mecca. It comes within a section addressing the polytheists of Quraysh, contextually emphasizing monotheism against the backdrop of Meccan idolatry. The surah's broader theme centers on the oneness of Allah as demonstrated through the stories of various prophets and their unwavering faith.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of Jibrail (in Sahih Muslim) wherein the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is asked about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan relates to the concept of sincere worship mentioned here. Additionally, Surah Al-Ikhlas (112:1-4), which the Prophet taught as equivalent to one-third of the Quran, directly complements this ayah's message of Allah's absolute uniqueness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that true worship requires recognizing Allah as the sole Creator and Lord of all existence, and that steadfast patience in obedience to Him is essential. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to purify their intentions, reject all forms of shirk (associating partners with Allah), and maintain unwavering commitment to Allah's service despite worldly distractions or opposition.