(98:5) Yet all that they had been commanded was that they serve Allah, with utter sincerity, devoting themselves exclusively to Him, and that they establish Prayer and pay Zakah. That is the Right Faith.
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah"
The verse begins by emphasizing that the fundamental command from Allah to humanity is to worship Him alone. This worship is not just in terms of rituals, but it encompasses all aspects of life, including submitting to Allah’s will and following His guidance.
"[Being] sincere to Him in religion"
The sincerity mentioned here refers to the purity of faith and the intention behind one's acts of worship. It emphasizes that a person should not worship Allah for show or out of mere tradition but with a genuine, sincere heart. This means that all acts of worship should be done solely for the pleasure of Allah.
"Inclining to truth"
This part highlights that the sincere worship of Allah must be aligned with the truth — meaning the teachings of Islam, which are based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It encourages believers to follow the correct path, one that is straight and free from falsehood.
"And to establish prayer and give zakah"
These are two important pillars of Islam. Salat (prayer) is the act of worship that connects the believer with Allah five times a day, and Zakah (charity) is the obligation to give a portion of one's wealth to those in need. These acts are essential in Islam and reflect both spiritual devotion and social responsibility.
"And that is the correct religion."
The verse concludes by stating that this path — sincere worship of Allah, following the truth, and establishing the pillars of Islam (prayer and charity) — is the "correct religion." It implies that there is no other acceptable way of life than submitting to Allah in this way.
The verse thus provides a concise summary of the essence of Islam: sincere worship of Allah, adherence to the truth, and the practice of essential duties like prayer and charity. It underscores that the correct way to live is to follow these teachings, which are grounded in sincere devotion to Allah.