سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ

Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 164

The Cattle · Meccan · Juz 8 · Page 150

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿164﴾
Say: "Shall I seek a lord other than Allâh, while He is the Lord of all things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been differing."
قُلْ qul Say
أَغَيْرَ aghayra Is (it) other than
ٱللَّهِ l-lahi Allah
أَبْغِى abghī I (should) seek
رَبًّۭا rabban (as) a Lord
وَهُوَ wahuwa while He
رَبُّ rabbu (is) the Lord
كُلِّ kulli (of) every
شَىْءٍۢ ۚ shayin thing
وَلَا walā And not
تَكْسِبُ taksibu earns
كُلُّ kullu every
نَفْسٍ nafsin soul
إِلَّا illā except
عَلَيْهَا ۚ ʿalayhā against itself
وَلَا walā and not
تَزِرُ taziru bears
وَازِرَةٌۭ wāziratun any bearer of burden
وِزْرَ wiz'ra burden
أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ukh'rā (of) another
ثُمَّ thumma Then
إِلَىٰ ilā to
رَبِّكُم rabbikum your Lord
مَّرْجِعُكُمْ marjiʿukum (is) your return
فَيُنَبِّئُكُم fayunabbi-ukum then He will inform you
بِمَا bimā about what
كُنتُمْ kuntum you were
فِيهِ fīhi concerning it
تَخْتَلِفُونَ takhtalifūna differing

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 164) ➊ {قُلْ اَغَيْرَ اللّٰهِ اَبْغِيْ رَبًّا …… :} The polytheists of Makkah acknowledged Allah Almighty as Lord, but had made many deities whom they hoped for benefit and harm from, and they worshipped and called upon them. Allah Almighty has repeatedly presented His being Lord in the Noble Qur’an as evidence of His divinity, that is, being the only one worthy of worship. See Surah Yunus (31), Surah Saba (22), and Surah Fatir (13). Here too, the meaning is that worship can only be for the One who is Lord, so your calling upon others besides Allah, worshipping them, is in fact making them lords. Now, how can I worship anyone besides Allah and make him a lord, when He alone is the Lord of everything.

{وَ لَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ اِلَّا عَلَيْهَا......:} The disbelievers used to say to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Muslims that you should follow us in the religion of our forefathers and do not worry about sin; if it is a sin, we will bear it. Allah Almighty said that they will not bear anything of their sins, rather they are outright liars. See Surah Al-Ankabut (12, 13). Here too, their deception and trickery has been answered, saying, if any soul commits a sin, it is upon itself; no other soul will bear it in any way. This is against the justice of Allah Almighty, before whom you have to return, then He will judge your differences and decide between right and wrong. Allah Almighty has mentioned this decision of His in several places. See Surah Al-An’am (31), Surah Fatir (18), and Surah An-Najm (38, 39).

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.

164. 1 Here, by "Rabb" is meant to accept only that Allah whom the polytheists continued to deny, and which is required by His Lordship. However, the polytheists did accept His Lordship and did not associate anyone with Him in this, but they associated partners with Him in His divinity.

164. 2 That is, Allah will make complete arrangements for justice and fairness, and whoever has done good or evil, He will reward or punish accordingly; good deeds will be rewarded well and evil deeds will be punished, and the burden of one will not be placed on another.

164. 3 Therefore, if you do not accept this call to monotheism, which has been the common call of all the prophets, then you continue with your deeds, and we will continue with ours. On the Day of Resurrection, the decision between us and you will be made in the court of Allah.

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.

164. Say: Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of everything [187]? And whoever does evil, its burden will be upon him alone; no soul will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you about that over which you used to differ [189].

[187] That is, the Lord of every single thing in the universe is Allah, and since I am also a part of the universe, how can my Lord be anyone else? Every single thing in the universe is operating according to the laws set by Allah, and I too am bound by these established laws in matters of compulsion. Then, in those matters where I have been given a little bit of choice, why should I not subject these choices to the will of Allah, and why should I adopt a contrary path, separate from the entire universe?

[188] It is impossible that one commits the act and another bears the burden! Most of the polytheists of Makkah, who did not believe in the Day of Resurrection, used to say to the Muslims: "Leave such monotheism and come to our side. Even if the Day of Judgment comes, we will bear the burden of your sin," as mentioned in Surah Al-Ankabut, verse 12. In this verse, a response is given to this statement of the polytheists: it is impossible that Zaid commits the sin and Bakr suffers the punishment. Everyone will be held accountable for their own deeds. Then only he will be punished.

[189] On that day, everything will become clear to you: the beings whom you considered partners of Allah, whom you used to call upon for help and to remove difficulties, and what status they have before Allah. And the differences upon which you founded your various sects—all will be laid bare before you.