وَأَنْ أَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 105
Translations
And [commanded], 'Direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining to truth, and never be of those who associate others with Allāh;
Transliteration
Wa an aqim wajhaka lil-dini hanifan wa la takoonanna minal-mushrikeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to direct himself wholly toward the religion of Allah with sincerity and monotheism, rejecting all forms of shirk (polytheism and associating partners with Allah). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that 'aqim wajhaka' (set your face) signifies complete dedication and unwavering commitment to monotheistic faith, while 'hanif' denotes the straight path of pure tawhid (monotheism). Al-Tabari emphasizes that this instruction applies not only to the Prophet but serves as a directive for all believers to maintain steadfast commitment to Islamic monotheism.
Revelation Context
Surah Yunus is a Meccan surah revealed during the early stages of the Prophet's mission when he faced intense opposition from the Meccan polytheists. This ayah reflects the period when the Prophet was being pressured to compromise his message, making this command to steadfastly maintain monotheism particularly significant in its historical and spiritual context.
Related Hadiths
The hadith 'Whoever dies without associating anything with Allah enters Paradise' (Sahih Muslim) relates to the theme of rejecting shirk. Additionally, the Prophet's statement 'I have been commanded to worship Allah, making my religion purely for Him' (Surah Az-Zumar 39:11-14) directly parallels this ayah's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith requires complete, undivided devotion to Allah alone, free from compromise or admixture of false beliefs. In the modern context, it calls Muslims to examine their hearts and practices, ensuring their religious commitment is sincere and their actions are performed solely for Allah's pleasure, not for worldly gain or social conformity.