Surah Yunus (10) — Ayah 3

(Ayah 3) ➊ {اِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْ …:} After the affirmation of prophethood, the arguments for monotheism and the Hereafter begin. The first and most evident argument for monotheism, which the Quran repeatedly presents, is that Allah Almighty is the Creator, Owner, Lord, and Manager of the heavens, the earth, and everything. See Surah Al-Baqarah (21, 22). Even the polytheists of Makkah accepted this. See Surah Al-Mu’minun (84 to 89). When He alone is the Lord, then why worship anyone else? In this verse and in many other places, Allah Almighty’s Lordship and other attributes are presented as evidence of His being the only true deity.
➋ { فِيْ سِتَّةِ اَيَّامٍ:} This verse also refutes the materialists who deny the very existence of the Lord Almighty. When even the smallest thing cannot be made without a maker, then understand that such a vast universe and its magnificent system, in which there is no accident or collision, its Maker is your Lord alone. By six days is meant either those days, each of which is equal to a thousand years of ours, as He said: «{وَ اِنَّ يَوْمًا عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ كَاَلْفِ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّوْنَ }» [ الحج : ۴۷ ] “And indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of what you count.” Or it means a period equal to our six days, because these days and nights came into existence after the creation of the sun. (And Allah knows best)
From this, Allah Almighty’s wisdom of gradualness is also evident, because if He willed, He could have created everything in a single moment by saying {’’كُنْ‘‘ }, but His wisdom required that the heavens and the earth be created in stages. In this is a lesson for us as well, to do every task with calmness and composure. If you reflect on most things in the universe, they are completed after passing through six stages, for example, for the creation of man, see Surah Al-Mu’minun (12 to 14).
➌ { ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ …: } Then He rose above the Throne and made it the center of managing the universe. Also see Surah Al-A’raf (54) {’’ يُدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ ‘‘} from which it is understood that after creating, all authority and management is also in His hands. The polytheists thought that some authority was with other beings, but after creating, who gives their ownership and authority to someone else? Then how can it be that He gives ownership and authority to powerless creatures who cannot even manage themselves? The reality is that no one can be more foolish than a polytheist. See Surah Ar-Rum (28).
➍ {مَا مِنْ شَفِيْعٍ اِلَّا مِنْۢ بَعْدِ اِذْنِهٖ:} The disbelievers and those who follow in their footsteps thought and still think that there are some beings who, though not owners, can get whatever they want done from Allah Almighty, and that Allah Almighty, compelled by His love for them or by their unseen power, has to accept their word and intercession. That is why they supplicate to them instead of Allah Almighty and ask them for their needs. Allah Almighty has clearly negated this. Yes, if Allah Almighty Himself grants someone permission to intercede as an honor, then he will be able to intercede, but only for the one for whom permission is granted. In this, he will have no authority of his own. This subject, that no one can intercede in the presence of Allah Almighty without His permission, is mentioned in many verses of the Quran, for example, see Surah Al-Baqarah (255), Ta-Ha (109), Saba (23), and Najm (26). In some places, Allah Almighty has completely negated intercession, as He said: «{ فَمَا تَنْفَعُهُمْ شَفَاعَةُ الشّٰفِعِيْنَ }» [ المدثر : ۴۸ ] “So the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them.” And He said: «{ وَ لَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا شَفَاعَةٌ }» [ البقرۃ : ۴۸، ۱۲۳] “And no intercession will be accepted from any soul.” There, either the disbelievers are mentioned, that their intercession will not benefit them, or intercession without permission is meant. Otherwise, intercession for the sinful among the Ummah is established from authentic hadiths, and also that the intercession of the Prophet (peace be upon him) will be accepted. The verses of {’’اِلَّا بِاِذْنِهٖ ‘‘} also establish this intercession, but this intercession will only be after Allah Almighty’s permission.
➎ {فَاعْبُدُوْهُ : } The meaning of worship is “to perform acts of devotion,” and also to spend one’s entire life as an “abd,” that is, as His obedient slave (servant), and also to call upon some unseen power for the fulfillment of needs is called worship. The Quran has specified every kind of worship for Allah alone. Thus, the meaning of {’’ فَاعْبُدُوْهُ ‘‘} is to worship Him alone, to call upon Him alone to remove difficulties, and to spend your entire life in His servitude (slavery). If in any aspect of life you adopt servitude to anyone else, it is as if you associate them in the worship of Allah Almighty.
➏ { اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ:} This was originally {’’ تَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ ‘‘}, here instead of inviting to reflection, the invitation is to remembrance. Remembrance means to recall, and this word is also used for admonition. The purpose is that to consider Allah alone worthy of worship does not require lengthy thought and contemplation; whatever is around you and whatever is present in your mind, just recall that, it is sufficient for admonition.

3. 1 For its explanation, see the footnote of Surah Al-A'raf, verse 54.

3. 2 That is, after creating the heavens and the earth, He did not leave them unattended; rather, He is managing and administering the entire universe in such a way that there has never been any collision between anything, and everything is engaged in its respective task by His command.

3. 3 The polytheists and disbelievers, who were the original addressees, believed that these idols, whom they worshipped, would intercede for them with Allah and save them from Allah's punishment. Allah Almighty said that there, no one will be allowed to intercede without Allah's permission. And this permission will only be for those whom Allah Almighty will approve.

3. 4 That is, such a God, who is the Creator of the universe, its Administrator and Organizer, and in addition, the sole Owner of all powers, He alone is worthy of being worshipped.

3. Surely, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself upon the Throne [5]. He manages all affairs of the universe. No one can intercede with Him except after He grants permission. Such are the attributes of your Lord. So worship Him alone. Will you not then take heed?

[5]
Only He Who is the Lord is Worthy of Worship:

With this verse, the arguments for Lordship and their outcomes begin. The first argument is that Allah alone created the earth and the heavens in six days (periods), meaning this universe did not come into existence by itself as the atheists think. Then He established Himself on the Throne (for explanation, see Surah Al-A'raf, verse number 54). Then, after creating the universe, He did not just sit back as some misguided people think. Rather, He is running its entire system. The sun, the moon, and the stars all move according to His command. His awe and authority are so great that no one even dares to intercede before Him for anyone else, except if He Himself grants permission to someone to intercede. Therefore, all these things demand that you worship none but this All-Powerful and Omnipotent Being, because He alone is your Lord. Both the words "Rabb" (Lord) and "Ibadah" (worship) have very broad meanings, which have already been explained in Surah Al-Fatiha. Here, it is sufficient to indicate that the result of truly accepting Allah as Lord is that all forms of worship are reserved exclusively for Him.