سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ

Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 66

The Forgiver · Meccan · Juz 24 · Page 474

۞ قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِىَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّى وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿66﴾
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you worship besides Allâh, since there have come to me evidence from my Lord; and I am commanded to submit (in Islâm) to the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
۞ قُلْ qul Say
إِنِّى innī Indeed, I
نُهِيتُ nuhītu [I] have been forbidden
أَنْ an to
أَعْبُدَ aʿbuda worship
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those whom
تَدْعُونَ tadʿūna you call
مِن min besides
دُونِ dūni besides
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
لَمَّا lammā when
جَآءَنِىَ jāaniya have come to me
ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ l-bayinātu the clear proofs
مِن min from
رَّبِّى rabbī my Lord
وَأُمِرْتُ wa-umir'tu and I am commanded
أَنْ an to
أُسْلِمَ us'lima submit
لِرَبِّ lirabbi to (the) Lord
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ l-ʿālamīna (of) the worlds

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 66) ➊ { قُلْ اِنِّيْ نُهِيْتُ اَنْ اَعْبُدَ الَّذِيْنَ تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ :} After the command to worship Allah alone, it was ordered in explicit words to proclaim that I have been forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah, meaning I have been forbidden to call upon them. The disbelievers’ desire and demand was that some worship should be devoted to Allah and some to their helpers in hardship. Say to them, I have been forbidden from worshipping all those whom you call upon besides Allah; no matter of yours can be accepted against the oneness of Allah, nor can there be any compromise on it. See also Surah Qalam (9) and Surah Kafiroon.

{لَمَّا جَآءَنِيَ الْبَيِّنٰتُ مِنْ رَّبِّيْ:} In these {’’ الْبَيِّنٰتُ ‘‘} are included those transmitted evidences of Allah’s oneness which were revealed to you (ﷺ) from the Lord in the form of Qur’anic verses and hadiths, as well as the countless rational proofs and signs that exist in every part of the universe for a person of sound nature. That is, with such clear transmitted and rational proofs, why do you expect me to obey you and begin worshipping your false deities?

{ وَ اُمِرْتُ اَنْ اُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ:} And I have been commanded to completely submit myself to the Lord of all worlds and to be obedient only to Him. See Surah Al-An’am (161 to 164).

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.

66. 1. Whether they are stone idols, prophets (علیہم السلام) and righteous people, or persons buried in graves. Do not call anyone for help, do not make vows or offerings in their names, do not recite their litanies, do not fear them, and do not attach hopes to them, because all these are forms of worship which are the exclusive right of Allah alone.

66. 2. These are the same rational and textual proofs by which the oneness of Allah, that is, Allah being the only deity and Lord, is established, which are mentioned repeatedly in the Quran. The meaning of Islam is to submit and surrender for obedience, to bow the head in submission, that is, I should bow before Allah and not turn away from Him. Further, some proofs of monotheism are being presented.

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.

Say, "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah [89], since clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds."

[89]
Supplication and Worship are Synonymous:

In this verse as well, supplication (du'a) and worship ('ibadah) have been regarded as synonymous. Also, in this verse, a clear and straightforward response has been given to those disbelievers who wanted to pave the way for compromise on the principle of give-and-take, that is, mutual concession.