Which is Precious: More on Judgement Day or Less in Earthly life? - Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Most people, no matter which religion or faith they belong to, understand that there is a life after this life: a life when man will be held accountable for all the bad deeds and rewarded for all the good deeds he did during his earthly life. Like these many, Muslims also believe firmly on the Day of resurrection and the Day of Judgement. These two events have been oft mentioned in Qur'an and talked of by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The sole purpose of man in his life should be faith in one true God, we call Allah, and all good acts be taken to please Allah and no one else. This also means worship of Allah and bowing no one else except He. These are small acts that have far more greater dividends than the bundles of acts to please one's worldly deities and idols.

This has been explicitly mentioned in one of the hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, mentioned in Sahi Bukhari as Hadith number 6557 in Book number 81: To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq), and Chapter number 51: The description of Paradise and the Fire, shared herein under:

Narrated by Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will say to the person who will have the minimum punishment in the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, 'If you had things equal to whatever is on the earth, would you ransom yourself (from the punishment) with it?' He will reply, Yes. Allah will say, 'I asked you a much easier thing than this while you were in the backbone of Adam, that is, not to worship others besides Me, but you refused and insisted to worship others besides Me."'

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لأَهْوَنِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَوْ أَنَّ لَكَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ أَكُنْتَ تَفْتَدِي بِهِ فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيَقُولُ أَرَدْتُ مِنْكَ أَهْوَنَ مِنْ هَذَا وَأَنْتَ فِي صُلْبِ آدَمَ أَنْ لاَ تُشْرِكَ بِي شَيْئًا فَأَبَيْتَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي ‏"‏‏.‏

This hadith describes a person who, although destined for Hellfire, receives the least punishment (i.e. a minimal portion of torment), because perhaps his sins are less severe or he had some merit. Allah will offer this person all the wealth and possessions of the world (“things equal to whatever is on the earth”) as a ransom to escape even that minimal punishment. The person would naturally respond affirmatively, saying he wishes he could give up everything to avoid it.

However, Allah reminds that He had already asked something much easier from him far earlier—namely, to worship none except Allah (i.e. to maintain pure Tawḥīd) — a command made at the very inception of mankind (in the “backbone of Adam” i.e. from the start of human responsibility). But that person refused or neglected that simple fundamental duty, choosing shirk (associating partners with Allah), and thus must face the consequences.

Related Qur’anic Verses

Qur'an warns and cautions man to abstain from Shirk and worship Allah alone without any link to worldly deities or even prophets. Here are some Qur’anic verses that resonate with the themes of this hadith:

• Shirk (associating partners with Allah) as the gravest sin: “Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills…” (Qur’an 4:48)
• Knowing what was asked but still choosing disobedience: 
• “And We did not send any messenger before you but We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.” (Qur’an 21:25)
• This is close to what Allah says in the hadith: the easiest thing — pure worship — was demanded from the start.
• Warning about opportunity for repentance and the Day of Judgment:
• “O mankind, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] We created you from dust... and He will resurrect you another time.” (Qur’an 22:5)
• “And whoever comes with a good deed will have better than it, and they, from the terror of that Day, will be safe.” (Qur’an 27:89)

Lessons & Applications for Us Today

This hadith has many profound implications for personal faith and community life:

• Fundamental Tawḥīd is non-negotiable: Worshiping Allah alone is the most basic requirement. If one ignores that, no amount of wealth or good deeds can avert the consequence of shirk.
• Avoid delaying or minimizing key obligations: Many people may think “I’ll do good deeds later,” or “It’s easier to start with small things,” but neglecting foundational matters (like Tawḥīd, sincerity) is dangerous.
• Reminder of how easy the test was, but how serious the consequences are: The hadith reminds us that Allah’s commands are not burdensome; they are simple. But neglecting the simple commands can lead to severe results.
• Value what seems small: Often, people undervalue remembrance of Allah, purity in belief, sincere worship. But those small acts or simple beliefs could be what distinguish true faith from loss.
• Motivation for early repentance: If someone thinks they can trade everything to escape punishment later, they should realize it’s far better to correct their path now.
• Focus on what matters most: In a world obsessed with accumulating wealth, status, and possessions, this hadith reminds us that what matters most is one’s relationship with Allah—especially worshiping Him alone.
• Humility: Acknowledging that all of us are accountable—even the one with “least punishment” will regret not having done what was easier earlier.

Summary

So, putting it all together:

• Hadith text: Allah asking one with minimal punishment if they would offer everything they have to escape it; reminder that earlier He asked something far simpler (to avoid shirk), but they refused.
• Connected Qur’anic themes: Tawḥīd, the severity of shirk, accountability, choice, and punishment vs reward.
• Relevance: This hadith should push us toward sincerity in belief, avoiding shirk, repenting early, and recognizing that what seems “easy” or “fundamental” should not be neglected.

While non Muslims may heed to this Divine caution or remain heedless, we Muslims should also realise that many a time in our life our faith waivers and we get inclined to worldly deities for "speeding up" our prayers to Allah. This is a major sin for a true Muslim approaches Allah directly through his five daily prayers, the Tahajjad prayers and many a supplication mentioned in Qur'an and Hadiths. Let all our acts to be to please Allah and no one else. For if we rest our desires on the shoulders of our superiors, saints and imams, we are committing shirk.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Source of Hadith | Help taken from ChatGPT for expanding meaning of the Hadith

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing. one may also consult local Muslim Imaan of the masjid for more clarification.

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to "force" preach, convert, or criticize any belief system. The views shared are meant to inspire dialogue, understanding, and reflection. Viewer discretion is advised, especially for those navigating sensitive religious experiences. Always seek knowledge with an open heart and mind.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Al Qur'an: The parable of the beautiful yet fragile cobweb and those who make fragile foundation of their faith based on shirk

Al Qur'an, though revealed in the Arabic language, is much easy to understand for its ayat / verses are straight forward and spelt out clearly for everyone to understand the Divine message. Yet at places stories of the past nations are presented as co-reference and correlation. At places parables are mentioned for man likes fiction more than Divine language.

The 41st verse of Al-‘Ankabūt (The Spider) is one of the parables mentioned in Al Qur'an equating the beautiful and intricate spider web, which though seems beautiful, yet is so fragile that it can fragment with little touch of the blowing air, with those who lay the foundation of their faith on shirk - a building so fragile that can crumble with a whisper of the Lord of the universe.

Let us examine the 41st verse of Surah Al-‘Ankabūt with reference to the context and its relevance and correlation to our life today.

The Verse:

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْلِيَآءَ كَمَثَلِ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ٱتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًۭا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ ٱلْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ ٱلْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ

"The example of those who take allies besides Allah is like that of the spider who builds a house; and indeed, the frailest of houses is the house of the spider — if only they knew."

Context & Link to Preceding Verses

In the previous verses, that is verses 39-40, mention of the past nations (Qārūn, Pharaoh, Hāmān, and others) is made which were destroyed for their arrogance and rejection of Allah’s message. They considered their deities to be stronger than the soul Lord of the world and hinged their faith on them for their protection against any disaster. These verses show that no amount of worldly power or false support can protect a person from Allah’s punishment.

Herein under are the verses 36-40 for correlation to verse 41:

(29:36) And We sent to Midian their brother Shuayb. He said: “My people, serve Allah and look forward to the Last Day and do not go about the earth committing mischief.” (29:37) But they denounced him as a liar. So a mighty earthquake overtook them, and by the morning they lay overturned in their houses.

(29:38) And We destroyed Ad and Thamud, whose dwellings you have observed. Satan had embellished their deeds for them and had turned them away from the Right Path although they were a people of clear perception. (29:39) And We destroyed Qarun (Korah) and Pharaoh and Haman. Moses came to them with Clear Signs but they waxed arrogant in the land although they could not have outstripped (Us).

(29:40) So We seized each for their sin. We let loose upon some a violent tornado with showers of stones; some were overtaken by a mighty Cry;69 some were caused to be swallowed up by the earth,70 and some We drowned. Allah would not wrong them, but it is they who wronged themselves.

Verse 41, thus, comes as a parable: those who seek protection, blessings, or salvation from anyone other than Allah — be it idols, spirits, saints, or any creation — are like someone seeking shelter in a spider’s web: appearing like a home, but fragile and useless in real danger.

Meaning of the Spider Parable

• A spider’s web may look intricate and beautiful but is weak and cannot shield its resident from harm.
• Similarly, false gods, saints, spirits, or “allies” besides Allah may appear to offer help, but in reality:
• They cannot create, sustain, or protect (cf. 22:73 — even a fly they cannot produce).
• On the Day of Judgment, they will disclaim their worshippers (cf. 10:28–29).

Relevance Today — Including Muslims Who Fall into Shirk

This verse has two audiences, the Non Muslims and even many Muslims. Let us see how:

• Non Muslims: 
• As for Non Muslims, their basic foundation of faith hinges mainly on their worldly deities, though some have some semblance of a distant deity. Some even acknowledge the presence of a Supreme Being up in the heavens, yet they associate worldly deities to be partners with the Lord of the world, who they claim share the powers of the one true God. Some even go to the extent of calling their deities at par with the God and refer to them more rather than the true God. 
• This has always been the bone of contention between the prophets Divinely sent and those worshiping their worldly deities. And when many nations did not cede to the Divine Commandments and even hurt and killed the prophets, they were subjected to the divine wrath and their strong stone house built in mountains caved in destroying all the idolaters.
• Muslims: Although most of the Muslims accept the presence of one true God, called Allah, there are yet some who still cling to the culture and traditions of the past and still engage in practices that contradict pure Tawḥīd, like:
• Bowing, prostrating, or making du‘ā’ at graves of saints.
• Believing the dead can independently fulfill needs or protect from harm.
• Using charms, amulets, or spiritual intermediaries believing they have power without Allah’s will.
• Such acts resemble the spider’s web — they provide no real help and may lead to major shirk, the gravest sin in Islam (4:48).

Thus while this ayat points towards the non Muslims, it also warn those Muslims with weak faith and inclinations.

Qur’anic & Prophetic Reinforcement

• Qur’an:
• "Do not call upon anyone besides Allah — such will neither benefit you nor harm you. If you do so, you will surely be of the wrongdoers." (10:106)
• "And the mosques are for Allah, so do not invoke anyone with Allah." (72:18)
• Hadith:
• Prophet ﷺ said: “When you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek help from Allah.” (Tirmidhī, 2516)
• He forbade taking graves as places of worship: “Do not sit on graves nor pray towards them.” (Muslim, 972)

Lessons for today

• Tawḥīd is the strongest shelter — like a solid fortress (Surah Tauba 9:51 — “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed”).
• Shirk makes your spiritual foundation fragile, like a spider’s web.
• Even cultural or inherited acts of reverence that contradict Tawḥīd must be abandoned.
• True help, protection, and provision come only from Allah.

We need to get out of the world of illusions, false hopes, false deities who themselves are unaware of their fate on the Judgement Day. Let our faith be the faith of Allah conveyed to us by chosen prophets. Let us follow the unadulterated Divine scriptures which have been changed in substance to trick and mislead the true devotees. 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from Sürah 29. Al-‘Ankabūt (The Spider) for verses from this Surah

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Resource References:| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Whoever invokes, along with Allah, another god, then his reckoning is only with his Lord

Our faith defines the ultimate direction of our thoughts and destiny. One cannot have multi directional mindset to steer one's life. Likewise, when it comes to our religious faith, we cannot look up to any deity other than the only Lord of the universe, we Muslims call Allah while others call Him God, though some have different interpretation of God when it comes to Monotheism characterized as per the religion whose foundation was laid by Prophet Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ (Abraham). Any deviation form Monotheism is regarded as tangent to belief in One Ture God.

However, many tend to deviate from the concept of Monotheism and add worldly gods alongside the True God, distinguished from henotheism, a religious system in which the believer worships one god without denying that others may worship different gods with equal validity, and monolatrism, the recognition of the existence of many gods but with the consistent worship of only one deity. If one does have gods besides One True God, he is committing the crime of Shirk.

You may like to know what shirk is from our Reference page: Understanding Shirk - Grave sin of Associating Partners with Allah

Thus, anything other than Monotheism is strongly denied in Islam and those who do so will have their reckoning with Allah alone. This has been explicitly said in Surah Al-Mu’minun (23:117), explained herein under:

The Verse

وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَـٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ

“And whoever invokes, along with Allah, another god — for which he has no proof — then his reckoning is only with his Lord. Surely, the disbelievers will not succeed.” (23:117)

Context in Surah Al-Mu’minun

Surah Al-Mu’minun begins with the qualities of true believers (23:1–11) and then contrasts them with the arrogance, disbelief, and corruption of those who reject Allah’s messengers. Verse 117 comes near the end of the Surah (the closing passage), summarizing the fate of those who commit shirk (associating partners with Allah):

• They have no evidence for their beliefs.
• They will face judgment with Allah.
• Their final outcome is failure in the Hereafter.

This verse also came as a rebuttal to the Quraysh in Makkah, who worshipped idols alongside Allah and claimed they were “intercessors” without any divine proof (cf. 10:18).

Phrase-by-Phrase Meaning

• "Whoever invokes another god along with Allah…" Refers to any act of worship — prayer, sacrifice, seeking help — directed to someone or something other than Allah, whether idol, saint, angel, prophet, or force of nature.
• "…for which he has no proof" Islam’s core principle: truth must rest on evidence. No prophet or divine book has ever authorized worship of anything besides Allah.
• "…his reckoning is with his Lord" Ultimate judgment belongs to Allah alone. Even if such a person appears to “get away with it” in this life, the real accounting is in the Hereafter.
• "Indeed, the disbelievers will never succeed" Permanent failure in the Hereafter, regardless of worldly achievements.

Related Qur’anic References

• 17:39 – “Do not set up with Allah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and rejected.”
• 4:48 – “Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
• 10:66 – “Unquestionably, to Allah belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allah do not [actually] follow any partners; they follow only assumption, and they are only guessing.”

Supporting Hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari (4497) – The Prophet ﷺ said: “The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.” The Hadith means that all prophets taught Tawḥīd; no prophet ever sanctioned shirk.
• Sahih Muslim (92) – “Whoever meets Allah without associating anything with Him will enter Paradise, and whoever meets Him associating something with Him will enter Hell.”

Core Lessons

• No proof exists for shirk — All authentic revelation calls to pure monotheism.
• Accountability is certain — People may justify their shirk in this world, but Allah will question them in the Hereafter.
• Faith is evidence-based — True belief must be rooted in divine proof, not blind tradition or inherited customs.
• Success is defined by the Hereafter — Worldly victories are meaningless if they end in eternal loss.

Relevance Today

• Modern forms of shirk can be direct (worshipping other beings) or subtle (placing ultimate trust in power, wealth, or ideology).
• Many today claim certain saints, leaders, or “spiritual powers” can protect them or bring them closer to God without Qur’anic or prophetic proof — this verse directly challenges such beliefs.
• In a world where “truth” is often treated as subjective, this verse calls for proof-based faith rooted in revelation, not hearsay or tradition.
• It’s also a warning that religious acts without Tawḥīd — no matter how impressive — have no value before Allah.

Thus to summarize the above quoted verse and its true meaning, any claim of partnership with God has absolutely no evidence to support it, neither from the universe and how it is run, nor from human logic or nature. Anyone who makes such a claim will have to face the reckoning in front of God, and the result is known in advance: “Most certainly the unbelievers shall never be successful.” This is an unfailing rule that is hound to come true. Success, by contrast, is guaranteed for the believers.

 

All the favours and comforts that we see the unbelievers enjoying in this life, and all the power and resources they may sometimes have at their command does not mean success in reality. It is all given to them as a test, and it will end with their loss in this present life. However, if some of them escape punishment in this world, they will have to face the reckoning in the hereafter. There, in the life to come, is the final stage of this life cycle. It is not something separate or isolated. Indeed, it is an essential stage, clearly seen by those who have real vision.

You may refer to Selected verses from Sūrah 23. Al-Mu’minūn “The Believers”  for other selected verses from Surah Al-Mu’minun already published. 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

A parable in the Qur’an which teaches absurdity of idolatry and worshiping beings other than Allah

Man has always been in competition with his very own Creator and the sole master of the entire universe. Many make hand made idols to represnt their worldly gods as did idolaters did in times of Prophet Ibrahim(Abraha, may peace be upon him) or the people of Israel when the made a cow to represent god and wanted to worship till Prophet Musa (Moses, may peace be upon him) came and destroyed the cow made of gold. 

Many still worship the idols even in present times while others assocate partners with one true God, we Muslims call Allah. Even many a women take human deities as friends of Allah, calling them Wali Allah, and prefer them more than the Allah. Many Muslims worship graves of the dead saints, while many others bow in front of living psudo saints for the redressal of their grievances and woes. It seems not much has changed since the advent of Islam. To caution these misguided, derailed and loose faith people, who commit the great unpardonable sin of shirk (associating / worshipping beings other than Allah, many a ayah / verses in Qur'an talk on the subject of shirk and helplessness of those whom people assocaite with Allah or worship idols.

Today, we share the 73rd verse from Surah Al Hajj, in which Allah explains the sin of shirk and inabaility of those whom people take their deities other than Allah in the shape of a parable as mentioned below.

يٰۤـاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسۡتَمِعُوۡا لَهٗ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ لَنۡ يَّخۡلُقُوۡا ذُبَابًا وَّلَوِ اجۡتَمَعُوۡا لَهٗ​ ؕ وَاِنۡ يَّسۡلُبۡهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيۡـئًـا لَّا يَسۡتَـنۡـقِذُوۡهُ مِنۡهُ​ ؕ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالۡمَطۡلُوۡبُ‏ 

(22:73) "O people! A parable is presented, so listen to it carefully: Indeed, those you call upon besides Allah can never create [even] a fly, even if they all gathered for that purpose. And if the fly were to snatch away anything from them, they could not retrieve it from it. Weak are the pursuer and the pursued!"

The sūrah makes a powerful, universal declaration that all deities people associate with God, including the ones to which the wrongdoers appeal for help, are weak and powerless. Their weakness is shown in a bustling and captivating scene. The address is universal, it includes everyone anywhere in the world, and the declaration is loud and clear: “Mankind!” When people have been gathered to listen, they are told that they are about to be given a statement of a general principle, not a particular case applicable on a certain occasion. “An aphorism is set forth; hearken, then, to it.” It is a statement of fact that applies in all situations: “Those beings whom you invoke instead of God cannot create a fly, even though they were to join all their forces to that end.” All false deities, whether they be idols and statues, human beings, traditions and values, to whom you appeal for support and with whom you seek to achieve victory and high esteem, are incapable of creating a fly, even if they muster all their forces, utilize all their knowledge and channel all their resources into one supreme effort. Indeed, the creation of a mere fly, that small and abject creature, defies all the harnessed powers of such false gods.

Let us expand the meaning of the verse in detail:

Key Points from the Verse:

• Universal Call to Attention
• "O people! A parable is presented, so listen to it carefully..."
• Allah calls upon all people, not just Muslims, to reflect.
• The use of a parable (مثل) indicates a deep lesson wrapped in a simple example.
• Creating a fly is just as impossible, for anyone or thing other than God, as creating a camel or an elephant, because the fly also demonstrates the great secret of life. Hence, it is placed on the same level as camels and elephants, with regard to its miraculous creation. The Qur’ānic aphorism, however, cites the case of a little, insignificant fly in order to generate a more profound feeling of powerlessness, without compromising the underlying principle.
• Helplessness of False gods: The sūrah adds another dimension in describing their powerlessness: “If a fly robs them of anything, they cannot rescue it from him!” False deities, be they idols or humans, cannot retrieve anything from a fly when it robs them of it. Flies can rob people of that which is precious indeed. At the same time, a fly carries agents of some very serious diseases, such as tuberculosis, typhoid, dysentery and conjunctivitis. It can deprive a person of his eyes or other organs, or indeed deprive him of his life. A weak and contemptible fly can rob a human being of what he can never retrieve. Summarising, we now know:
• "Indeed, those you call upon besides Allah can never create [even] a fly..."
• The idols or false deities people pray to cannot create even the smallest creature.
• The fly, one of the weakest and most insignificant creatures, is used to show how powerless these so-called gods are.
• Even More Powerless When Challenged
• "...even if they all gathered for that purpose..."
• Even if all the false gods and their followers united, they still couldn’t create a fly — not even a copy, let alone bring it to life.
• This is a clear argument for Allah’s exclusive power as the Creator.
• Powerlessness Exposed by a Fly
• "And if the fly were to snatch away anything from them, they could not retrieve it from it..."
• Flies are known to take tiny bits of food, yet even that cannot be taken back by these idols.
• Scientifically, once a fly takes something, it partially digests or absorbs it through its enzymes — even modern humans can’t “take it back” in the same form, let alone idols.
• A Final Blow to Idolatry
• "Weak are the pursuer and the pursued."
• The worshipper (طالب) is weak because they are seeking help from a powerless being.
• The idol (مطلوب) is also weak because it cannot even help itself.
• Both are in a relationship of mutual weakness, and futility.

Deeper Reflection:

• This verse is a rational argument against shirk (associating partners with Allah).
• It invites people to use their reason, not just emotion or tradition, when it comes to matters of worship.
• It also reveals the humiliating contrast between the might of Allah and the powerlessness of false gods.
• We nowe how the Qur’ānic style uses facts in the most effective way. Had the text referred to lions and similar wild animals adding that men cannot rescue anything such animals rob them of, it would have generated an air of strength and force, rather than weakness. Besides, the most powerful animals cannot rob man of anything greater than what a fly can rob him of.
• This powerful image stating a clear aphorism concludes with a simple comment: “Weak indeed is the seeker, and weak the sought!”

Foregoing explanation in view, Surah Al-Hajj (22:73) delivers a powerful, logical, and vivid argument: those who are worshiped besides Allah are so powerless that they can’t even match a fly in creation or defense. The parable ends by highlighting the weakness of both the worshippers and the idols — urging people to return to the worship of the One True God who is All-Powerful and Self-Sufficient.

Let us understand the Qur'an through simple explanation, followed by detailed tafseer to know what Qur'an wants us to know and beleive. With such parables and indications, Allah forbids us to follow beings other than He for the worldy deities cannot even make a fly or even the thin covering on the seed of the date. If that be so, then how can they redress our grievances? Let us not act as blinds when Qur'an shows us the light and the way to none but Allah, the Creator and redressal of grievances and provider of the means of sustenances.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎)  help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Understanding Shirk - Grave sin of Associating Partners with Allah (Reference Page)

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 |  2 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Understanding Shirk - Grave sin of Associating Partners with Allah (Reference Page)

Islam is a monotheistic religion for it is about belief in the oneness of Allah (God). The central concept in Islam is the belief that Allah is the only God, the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that there is no deity or god other than Him. This belief in the oneness of God is known as Tawhid, which is the foundation of Islamic theology and spirituality.

This monotheistic is tangent to all forms of beliefs and worship where partners are associating with Allah in power sharing or even someone at par with Allah. This act in Islam is called Shirk " شرك " an Arabic word meaning "the deification or worship of anyone or anything besides One True God."  Shirk is polytheism, the outright negation of monotheism. It is for this reason, shirk is the most disliked thing by the Almighty Allah, despite He being the Most Merciful and immensely Forgiving. For this reason, It is considered as the greatest sin in Islam and is explicitly condemned in the Qur'an and Hadith.

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” Surah An-Nisa (4:48)

Please read exegesis / tafsir of 112th verse of Qur'an wherein Allah tells that He alone is to be worshiped and He alone is the Master of the entire universe: Sürah 112.  Al Ikhlas (The Declaration of [God's] Oneness)  And also the attribute of Allah: Al Ahad - The One and Only

Shirk may take different forms, which must be avoided by all believers. Shirk may take following forms, as given below:

• Shirk in Worship (Ritualistic Shirk): This involves directing acts of worship (such as prayer, supplication, fasting, or sacrifice) to someone or something other than Allah, like idols, saints, or any other being considered to have divine power.
• Shirk in Belief: This refers to attributing divine qualities, such as creation, omnipotence, or knowledge, to someone or something other than Allah, such as believing that a human being, angel, or other entity shares Allah’s attributes.
• Shirk in Lordship (Rububiyyah): This involves attributing Allah's sovereign control over creation, sustenance, or the universe to someone else. For example, believing that a person or object has control over the natural world or life events in a way that only Allah does.
• Shirk in Names and Attributes (Asma wa Sifat): This involves assigning Allah’s unique names or attributes (such as "the Most Merciful" or "the All-Knowing") to anyone other than Him.

Why is Shirk so Important to Avoid in Islam?

Shirk is regarded as the most severe offense in Islam, and its consequences are dire both in this life and the Hereafter. Here are the key reasons why Muslims are urged to avoid shirk:

• Violates the Concept of Tawhid (Monotheism): Tawhid, or the oneness of Allah, is the core of the Islamic faith. Shirk undermines this fundamental principle by introducing multiple powers or deities and thereby distorting the understanding of Allah’s singular sovereignty.
• The Greatest Sin in Islam: Shirk is considered the ultimate form of injustice (zulm), as it assigns divine qualities to something other than Allah. Allah has stated in the Qur'an that He will forgive all sins, except for shirk, if a person dies without repentance.
• Consequences in the Afterlife: One of the most serious consequences of shirk is that Allah does not forgive it if a person dies without repenting. Those who commit shirk and do not repent are warned of eternal punishment in Hell.
• Disconnection from Allah's Mercy: Committing shirk is seen as a barrier between a person and the mercy of Allah. It breaks the relationship of pure worship that should exist between the believer and their Creator.

Committing shirk not only endangers a person’s soul but also disrespects Allah’s sovereignty and mercy. Muslims are urged to uphold pure monotheism, placing their trust and worship solely in Allah, who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Avoiding shirk is essential to maintaining the integrity of one’s faith and ensuring a successful Hereafter.

We have already published a number of posts covering aspects of Shirk. Through this reference page, we are providing links to already published posts hereinunder for the information of our readers to know more about shirk and will keep adding more posts on shirk as and when published:

• Selected Verses from Quran: The Sin of Shirk - Associating Partners with God
• An eye opener verse from Qur'an for those who commit Shirk by turning to deities other than Allah 
• Is it Right to Ask the Dead by visiting their graves for Help?
• Who will be among the worst creatures on the Day of Resurrection (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)
• Allah alone is the Deliverer - Yet you associate others with Allah in His divinity
• What is the Reality of Shirk - the sin of idolatry or polytheism (Scholars' Viewpoint)
• A parable in the Qur’an which teaches absurdity of idolatry and worshiping beings other than Allah

In time, we shall add more posts as this severely detested act of worship by Allah abounds in many verses of Qur'an and teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎)  help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | 

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

An eye opener verse from Qur'an for those who commit Shirk by turning to deities other than Allah

Shirk is an act of associating partners with Allah in any form. It is considered the gravest sin in Islam, as it directly contradicts the core concept of Tawhid, which is the oneness and uniqueness of Allah. Shirk involves ascribing divine attributes to others besides Allah or attributing God's exclusive rights to any being or thing. Yet despite many cautions in Qur'an and Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, many a believers, who otherwise proclaim faith in Allah, turn to saints (generally those who have died), angels, or any other entities, for redress of their grievances and fulfillment of their wordily desires and needs.

Many a devotees of dead saints in the Indian sub continent still flock the graves of their saints and seek their help of "conveying" their woes to Allah. This is despite the fact that Allah promises His servants that He is close to their jugular vein and listens to their grievances. 

This is the most detestable act in the eyes of Allah and He strictly forbids such practices. This is the theme of the 5th verse of Surah 46 Al Ahqaf (The Sand-Dunes) in which Allah warns those who turn to others than Him for fulfilment of their needs and cautions them to leave such practices for those dead in graves do not even know that they are being called upon.

وَمَنۡ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنۡ يَّدۡعُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ مَنۡ لَّا يَسۡتَجِيۡبُ لَهٗۤ اِلٰى يَوۡمِ الۡقِيٰمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَنۡ دُعَآئِهِمۡ غٰفِلُوۡنَ‏ 

(46:5) Who is farther strayed from the Right Path than he who calls upon others than Allah that cannot answer his call till the Day of Resurrection, the while they are not even conscious that callers are calling upon them?

The verse make it very clear that the wordily deities whom they call do not possess the powers by virtue of which they could give decisions on the prayers and petitions of their devotees. The these wordily deities do not possess the powers by virtue of which they could give decisions on the prayers and petitions of their devotees. “Until the Day of Resurrection” means that as long as the world lasts they will get no answer to their supplications and prayers from their deities, but when Resurrection will have taken place, the deities will turn hostile to their worshipers themselves, as becomes explicit from the next verse.

 6 )   And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.

That is, they will say: We had neither told the people to invoke us for help, nor are we aware that they used to invoke us. They themselves had presumed that we could fulfill their needs and so had started invoking us.

Let us now expand this verse and see its implications for the strayed Muslims:

Futility of Worshiping Others Besides Allah:

• The verse highlights that those who are invoked besides Allah have no power to respond to the calls or prayers of those who worship them. They are unable to provide any benefit, relief, or guidance to their worshipers.
• These entities, regardless of their nature, are completely powerless compared to Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

The Condition of the Invoked Beings:

• The verse points out that these entities are not even aware that they are being invoked. This could refer to idols, which are inanimate and have no consciousness, or to deceased humans or other beings, who have no awareness of the prayers directed towards them.
• The verse thus illustrates the absurdity of calling upon those who neither hear nor can respond, emphasizing that such acts of worship are baseless and misguided.

Ultimate Misguidance:

• The verse begins by questioning, "Who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allah?" This rhetorical question implies that there is no one more misguided than a person who engages in this type of worship.
• The misguidance is profound because it represents a departure from the fundamental truth of monotheism (Tawhid) — the belief that Allah alone is worthy of worship and that only He has the power to respond to prayers.

The Day of Resurrection:

• The verse mentions that these entities will not be able to respond until the Day of Resurrection. On that Day, all false beliefs will be exposed, and those who worshiped others besides Allah will realize their error. However, by then, it will be too late for them to rectify their misguidance.

Supporting verse from Qur'an:

"For Him [alone] is the supplication of truth. And those they call upon besides Him respond to them not at all, except as one who stretches his hands toward water [calling it] to reach his mouth, but it will never reach it. And the supplication of the disbelievers is not but in error [i.e., futility]." (Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:14)

This verse uses the metaphor of someone trying to reach water by stretching their hands towards it, but it never reaches their mouth, to illustrate the futility of calling upon anyone other than Allah. The verse emphasizes that only Allah can truly respond to prayers, while invoking others besides Him is utterly ineffective, just like trying to reach water by merely stretching out one's hands without making any actual effort to grasp it.

Supporting Hadiths:  

The message of this verse is reinforced by several Hadiths that emphasize the importance of Tawhid and the futility and danger of associating others with Allah (shirk).

• Hadith on the Prohibition of Shirk: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

Narrated by `Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said one statement and I said another. The Prophet (ﷺ) said "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell (Fire)." And I said, "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allah, will enter Paradise."(Sahih Al-Bukhari 4497). This hadith underscores the seriousness of shirk, the act of associating partners with Allah, and indicates that it leads to severe consequences in the Hereafter.

•  Hadith on the Exclusivity of Worship to Allah: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said:

"The right of Allah over His servants is that they should worship Him alone and not associate anything with Him." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 2856, Sahih Muslim 30). This hadith emphasizes that the primary duty of every human being is to worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him in any form. It aligns with the message of the verse by stressing the exclusivity of Allah's right to be worshiped.

Surah Al-Ahqaf, verse 5, highlights the utter misguidance of those who invoke beings other than Allah, beings that are powerless and unaware of the invocations directed at them. This verse serves as a strong reminder of the importance of Tawhid, the foundational concept of worshiping Allah alone. The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as reflected in various Hadiths, further reinforce this message, warning against the grave sin of shirk and emphasizing that only Allah is deserving of worship and capable of answering prayers.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎)  help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Religion

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Faith in Allah 

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference Source

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. 

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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