سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ

Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 92

The Prophets · Meccan · Juz 17 · Page 330

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَأَنَا۠ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُونِ ﴿92﴾
Truly! This, your Ummah [Shari‘ah or religion (Islâmic Monotheism)] is one religion, and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me (Alone). [Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr]
إِنَّ inna Indeed
هَـٰذِهِۦٓ hādhihi this
أُمَّتُكُمْ ummatukum (is) your religion
أُمَّةًۭ ummatan religion
وَٰحِدَةًۭ wāḥidatan one
وَأَنَا۠ wa-anā and I Am
رَبُّكُمْ rabbukum your Lord
فَٱعْبُدُونِ fa-uʿ'budūni so worship Me

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 92){ اِنَّ هٰذِهٖۤ اُمَّتُكُمْ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً …:} Many commentators have taken "ummah" here to mean "religion," just as Allah has quoted the saying of the disbelievers: «{ اِنَّا وَجَدْنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا عَلٰۤى اُمَّةٍ [ الزخرف : ۲۲ ] "Indeed, we found our forefathers upon a religion (i.e., a religion)." That is, your religion and creed are one and the same, and that is the religion of Tawheed (monotheism), and by {’’ هٰذِهٖۤ ‘‘} is meant the previously mentioned prophets: Nuh, Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub, Lut, Dawud, Sulaiman, Ayyub, Ismail, Idrees, Dhul-Kifl, Yunus, Zakariya, and Masih ibn Maryam (peace be upon them all), that all of them had one religion and all were established upon Tawheed. They did not consider anyone else as a deity, remover of difficulties, giver of healing, fixer of affairs, or granter of children; all these people were upon one religion: that I am your Lord, so worship Me alone. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ اَلْأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلاَّتٍ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتّٰی وَدِيْنُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ ] [ بخاري، أحادیث الأنبیاء، باب «واذکر في الکتاب مریم…» : ۳۴۴۳۔ مسلم : 2365/145] "The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one." The meaning of "ummah" is also "group," but such a group whose members are united by something, as He said: «{ وَ لْتَكُنْ مِّنْكُمْ اُمَّةٌ يَّدْعُوْنَ اِلَى الْخَيْرِ [ آل عمران : ۱۰۴ ] "And let there be among you a group inviting to good." That is, all these prophets were one group whose Lord was one and whose religion was one.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

92. 1. By "امۃ" here is meant religion or community, that is, your religion or community is one and the same, and that religion is the religion of Tawheed, to which all the prophets called, and the community is the community of Islam, which has been the community of all the prophets. Just as the Prophet ﷺ said, "We, the group of prophets, are paternal brothers (whose father is one and mothers are different); our religion is one." (Ibn Kathir)

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

Indeed, this (community of prophets) is your single community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me alone [83].

[83]
What Was the Common Teaching of All Prophets?

At this place, the word "ummah" is used in the meaning of "religion." Also, in this verse, all of mankind is addressed equally. The meaning is that the principles of the religion of the prophets have always been the same, and they are that the Lord of everything is only Allah Almighty. Therefore, He alone is worthy of worship. And this is called tawheed (monotheism). Then, a necessary result of this tawheed was also that those who accept this tawheed and worship only Allah should be given a good reward, and those who act against it, that is, the polytheists, should be given a severe punishment. In other words, having faith in the Hereafter and in reward and punishment is also a requirement of accepting the belief in tawheed. Prayer, zakat, fasting, etc., are important forms of worship. And Allah should be worshipped with hope and fear. Children, sustenance, etc., should be sought only from Allah. And in times of difficulty, only Allah should be called upon, only He should be beseeched. The prophets themselves are not independent beings; rather, in every matter, they too used to turn only to Allah. And so on—these principles of religion have been common among all the prophets. As for the details, there have been differences in those details according to the requirements of the era.