سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ

Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 213

The Poets · Meccan · Juz 19 · Page 376

فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُعَذَّبِينَ ﴿213﴾
So invoke not with Allâh another ilâh (god) lest you should be among those who receive punishment.
فَلَا falā So (do) not
تَدْعُ tadʿu invoke
مَعَ maʿa with
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
إِلَـٰهًا ilāhan god
ءَاخَرَ ākhara another
فَتَكُونَ fatakūna lest you be
مِنَ mina of
ٱلْمُعَذَّبِينَ l-muʿadhabīna those punished

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 213) {فَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللّٰهِ اِلٰهًا اٰخَرَ …:} After stating the truth and divine origin of the Quran, Allah commanded His Prophet (peace be upon him) to call upon Allah alone and not to call upon anyone besides Him, and said that if you call upon anyone else, you will be among those who are punished. Although this address is to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the real purpose is to warn the disbelievers and polytheists, because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) neither committed shirk nor was going to do so. He was addressed so that everyone would be made aware that shirk is such a great sin that, if hypothetically committed by the Messenger, he too would be punished—so what would be the state of others? As He said: «{ وَ لَقَدْ اُوْحِيَ اِلَيْكَ وَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَىِٕنْ اَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَ لَتَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ [ الزمر : ۶۵ ] "And indeed, it has been revealed to you and to those before you: If you associate partners (with Allah), surely your deeds will become worthless and you will certainly be among the losers."

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.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

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.

213. So (O Prophet), do not call upon any other god along with Allah, or you will be among those who are punished [126].

[126] In this, the addressee is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who is the inviter towards Tawheed and an enemy of Shirk. And it is impossible for Shirk to be committed by you. The manner of address is actually adopted for further emphasis in this command. That is, even you ﷺ, who are the most virtuous and noble, if you also commit Shirk, you will not be able to escape the punishment of Allah—so what will be the state of others? In reality, this style has been adopted to clarify to the polytheists of Makkah the severe evil of Shirk. In fact, the real addressees of this verse are those people who call upon others for the fulfillment of their needs and the removal of their difficulties.