سُوْرَةُ الْفَاتِحَةِ
Surah Al-Faatiha (1) — Ayah 5
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿5﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِيَّاكَ
iyyāka
You Alone
نَعْبُدُ
naʿbudu
we worship
وَإِيَّاكَ
wa-iyyāka
and You Alone
نَسْتَعِينُ
nastaʿīnu
we ask for help
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
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.
1. The meaning of worship is to express utmost humility and perfect submission for the pleasure of someone, and according to Ibn Kathir, in Shariah, it is the combination of perfect love, submission, and fear, meaning that there is love for the being, and also fear of His grasp through means beyond apparent causes. The straightforward statement is: We worship You and seek help from You. Neither is it permissible to worship anyone other than Allah, nor is it permissible to seek help from anyone else. These words block the way to shirk, but those whose hearts are afflicted with the disease of shirk ignore the difference between seeking help through means beyond apparent causes and within apparent causes, and mislead the public by saying: Look, when we fall ill, we seek help from a doctor, we seek help from our wife, we seek help from drivers and other people, thus they try to convince that seeking help from others besides Allah is also permissible. Whereas seeking and giving help to each other within the apparent means is not shirk; rather, it is the system established by Allah Almighty, in which all matters are carried out according to apparent means. Even the Prophets seek help from humans. Prophet Isa (علیہ السلام) said (من انصاری الی اللہ) Who are my helpers for Allah’s religion? Allah Almighty said to the believers (ۘوَتَعَاوَنُوْا عَلَي الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوٰى) 5:2 Help each other in righteousness and piety. Obviously, this cooperation is neither forbidden nor shirk, rather it is desirable and commendable. What relation does this have with technical shirk? Shirk is to seek help from such a person who, according to apparent means, cannot help, such as calling upon a deceased person for help, considering him a remover of difficulties and fulfiller of needs, believing him to be beneficial or harmful, and accepting that he has the ability to hear the cries of everyone from near and far. This is called seeking help through means beyond apparent causes and attributing divine qualities to him; this is what is called shirk, which, unfortunately, is common in Muslim countries under the name of love for the saints. May Allah protect us from it.
The three types of Tawheed. At this point, it seems appropriate to briefly mention the three important types of Tawheed. These are: Tawheed of Lordship, Tawheed of Divinity, and Tawheed of Attributes.
1. Tawheed of Lordship means that the Owner, Provider, and Manager of this universe is only Allah Almighty, and everyone accepts this Tawheed, even the polytheists have acknowledged and still acknowledge it, as the Holy Quran has quoted the confession of the polytheists of Makkah. For example, it is said: O Prophet ﷺ, ask them, who provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth, or who owns your hearing and sight, and who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living, and who manages the affairs of the world? They will immediately say: (Allah) (i.e., Allah is the one who does all these things) (قُلْ مَنْ يَّرْزُقُكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَاۗءِ وَالْاَرْضِ اَمَّنْ يَّمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْاَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُّخْرِجُ الْـحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُّدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ ۭ فَسَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اللّٰهُ ۚ فَقُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ) 10:31. In another place, it is said: If you ﷺ ask them, whose is the earth and whatever is in it? Who is the Owner of the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne? In whose hand is the kingdom of everything? And He gives protection to all, and there is no one to give protection against Him? In answer to all these, they will say: Allah, i.e., all these matters belong to Allah alone. (قُلْ لِّمَنِ الْاَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيْهَآ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ 84 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ 85 قُلْ مَنْ رَّبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ 86 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ 87 قُلْ مَنْۢ بِيَدِهٖ مَلَكُوْتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَّهُوَ يُجِيْرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ 88 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ فَاَنّٰى تُسْحَرُوْنَ 89) 23:84, 89 and other verses.
2. Tawheed of Divinity means that Allah Almighty alone is worthy of all forms of worship, and worship is every act that is done for the pleasure of a specific being or out of fear of displeasing him. Therefore, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat are not the only acts of worship, but supplicating and pleading to a specific being, making vows in his name, standing with folded hands before him, circumambulating him, having hope and fear from him, etc., are also acts of worship. In Tawheed of Divinity, they commit shirk and perform many of the aforementioned acts of worship for those buried in graves and deceased elders, which is outright shirk.
3. Tawheed of Attributes means to accept the attributes of Allah Almighty as described in the Quran and Hadith without any interpretation or distortion, and not to accept those attributes in anyone else in the same manner. For example, just as He has the attribute of knowledge of the unseen, or He is capable of hearing the cries of everyone from near and far, He has the authority to exercise control over all things in the universe, or other such divine attributes—none of these attributes should be accepted in any Prophet, saint, or any person other than Allah. If they are accepted, it will be shirk. It is unfortunate that this type of shirk is also common among grave-worshippers, and they have associated many servants with Allah in these mentioned attributes. May Allah protect us from it.
The three types of Tawheed. At this point, it seems appropriate to briefly mention the three important types of Tawheed. These are: Tawheed of Lordship, Tawheed of Divinity, and Tawheed of Attributes.
1. Tawheed of Lordship means that the Creator, Owner, Provider, and Manager of this universe is only Allah Almighty. Except for atheists and heretics, everyone accepts this Tawheed, even the polytheists have acknowledged and still acknowledge it, as the Holy Quran has quoted the confession of the polytheists of Makkah. For example, it is said: O Prophet ﷺ, ask them, who provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth, or who owns your hearing and sight, and who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living, and who manages the affairs of the world? They will immediately say: Allah (i.e., Allah is the one who does all these things) (قُلْ مَنْ يَّرْزُقُكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَاۗءِ وَالْاَرْضِ اَمَّنْ يَّمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْاَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُّخْرِجُ الْـحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُّدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ ۭ فَسَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اللّٰهُ ۚ فَقُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ 31) 10:31. In another place, it is said (وَلَىِٕنْ سَاَلْــتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ لَيَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُ) 39. Az-Zumar: 38) If you ﷺ ask them, who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? They will surely say: Allah. In another place, it is said: If you ﷺ ask them, whose is the earth and whatever is in it? Who is the Owner of the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne? In whose hand is the kingdom of everything? And He gives protection to all, and there is no one to give protection against Him? In answer to all these, they will say: Allah Almighty, i.e., all these matters belong to Allah alone. And other such verses.
2. Tawheed of Divinity means that only Allah Almighty is worthy of all forms of worship, and worship is every act that is done for the pleasure of a specific being or out of fear of displeasing him. Therefore, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat are not the only acts of worship, but supplicating and pleading to a specific being, making vows in his name, standing with folded hands before him, circumambulating him, having hope and fear from him, etc., are also acts of worship. In Tawheed of Divinity, they commit shirk and perform many of the aforementioned acts of worship for those buried in graves and deceased elders, which is outright shirk.
3. Tawheed of Attributes means to accept the attributes of Allah Almighty as described in the Quran and Hadith without any interpretation or distortion, and not to accept those attributes in anyone else in the same manner. For example, just as He has the attribute of knowledge of the unseen, or He is capable of hearing the cries of everyone from near and far, He has the authority to exercise control over all things in the universe, or other such divine attributes—none of these attributes should be accepted in any Prophet, saint, or any person other than Allah Almighty. If they are accepted, it will be shirk. It is unfortunate that this type of shirk is also common among grave-worshippers, and they have associated many servants with Allah in these mentioned attributes. May Allah protect us from it.
The three types of Tawheed. At this point, it seems appropriate to briefly mention the three important types of Tawheed. These are: Tawheed of Lordship, Tawheed of Divinity, and Tawheed of Attributes.
1. Tawheed of Lordship means that the Owner, Provider, and Manager of this universe is only Allah Almighty, and everyone accepts this Tawheed, even the polytheists have acknowledged and still acknowledge it, as the Holy Quran has quoted the confession of the polytheists of Makkah. For example, it is said: O Prophet ﷺ, ask them, who provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth, or who owns your hearing and sight, and who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living, and who manages the affairs of the world? They will immediately say: (Allah) (i.e., Allah is the one who does all these things) (قُلْ مَنْ يَّرْزُقُكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَاۗءِ وَالْاَرْضِ اَمَّنْ يَّمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْاَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُّخْرِجُ الْـحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُّدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ ۭ فَسَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اللّٰهُ ۚ فَقُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ) 10:31. In another place, it is said: If you ﷺ ask them, whose is the earth and whatever is in it? Who is the Owner of the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne? In whose hand is the kingdom of everything? And He gives protection to all, and there is no one to give protection against Him? In answer to all these, they will say: Allah, i.e., all these matters belong to Allah alone. (قُلْ لِّمَنِ الْاَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيْهَآ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ 84 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُوْنَ 85 قُلْ مَنْ رَّبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ 86 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ 87 قُلْ مَنْۢ بِيَدِهٖ مَلَكُوْتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَّهُوَ يُجِيْرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ 88 سَيَقُوْلُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ ۭ قُلْ فَاَنّٰى تُسْحَرُوْنَ 89) 23:84, 89 and other verses.
2. Tawheed of Divinity means that Allah Almighty alone is worthy of all forms of worship, and worship is every act that is done for the pleasure of a specific being or out of fear of displeasing him. Therefore, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat are not the only acts of worship, but supplicating and pleading to a specific being, making vows in his name, standing with folded hands before him, circumambulating him, having hope and fear from him, etc., are also acts of worship. In Tawheed of Divinity, they commit shirk and perform many of the aforementioned acts of worship for those buried in graves and deceased elders, which is outright shirk.
3. Tawheed of Attributes means to accept the attributes of Allah Almighty as described in the Quran and Hadith without any interpretation or distortion, and not to accept those attributes in anyone else in the same manner. For example, just as He has the attribute of knowledge of the unseen, or He is capable of hearing the cries of everyone from near and far, He has the authority to exercise control over all things in the universe, or other such divine attributes—none of these attributes should be accepted in any Prophet, saint, or any person other than Allah. If they are accepted, it will be shirk. It is unfortunate that this type of shirk is also common among grave-worshippers, and they have associated many servants with Allah in these mentioned attributes. May Allah protect us from it.
The three types of Tawheed. At this point, it seems appropriate to briefly mention the three important types of Tawheed. These are: Tawheed of Lordship, Tawheed of Divinity, and Tawheed of Attributes.
1. Tawheed of Lordship means that the Creator, Owner, Provider, and Manager of this universe is only Allah Almighty. Except for atheists and heretics, everyone accepts this Tawheed, even the polytheists have acknowledged and still acknowledge it, as the Holy Quran has quoted the confession of the polytheists of Makkah. For example, it is said: O Prophet ﷺ, ask them, who provides you with sustenance from the heavens and the earth, or who owns your hearing and sight, and who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living, and who manages the affairs of the world? They will immediately say: Allah (i.e., Allah is the one who does all these things) (قُلْ مَنْ يَّرْزُقُكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَاۗءِ وَالْاَرْضِ اَمَّنْ يَّمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْاَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُّخْرِجُ الْـحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُّدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ ۭ فَسَيَقُوْلُوْنَ اللّٰهُ ۚ فَقُلْ اَفَلَا تَتَّقُوْنَ 31) 10:31. In another place, it is said (وَلَىِٕنْ سَاَلْــتَهُمْ مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ لَيَقُوْلُنَّ اللّٰهُ) 39. Az-Zumar: 38) If you ﷺ ask them, who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth? They will surely say: Allah. In another place, it is said: If you ﷺ ask them, whose is the earth and whatever is in it? Who is the Owner of the seven heavens and the Mighty Throne? In whose hand is the kingdom of everything? And He gives protection to all, and there is no one to give protection against Him? In answer to all these, they will say: Allah Almighty, i.e., all these matters belong to Allah alone. And other such verses.
2. Tawheed of Divinity means that only Allah Almighty is worthy of all forms of worship, and worship is every act that is done for the pleasure of a specific being or out of fear of displeasing him. Therefore, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and Zakat are not the only acts of worship, but supplicating and pleading to a specific being, making vows in his name, standing with folded hands before him, circumambulating him, having hope and fear from him, etc., are also acts of worship. In Tawheed of Divinity, they commit shirk and perform many of the aforementioned acts of worship for those buried in graves and deceased elders, which is outright shirk.
3. Tawheed of Attributes means to accept the attributes of Allah Almighty as described in the Quran and Hadith without any interpretation or distortion, and not to accept those attributes in anyone else in the same manner. For example, just as He has the attribute of knowledge of the unseen, or He is capable of hearing the cries of everyone from near and far, He has the authority to exercise control over all things in the universe, or other such divine attributes—none of these attributes should be accepted in any Prophet, saint, or any person other than Allah Almighty. If they are accepted, it will be shirk. It is unfortunate that this type of shirk is also common among grave-worshippers, and they have associated many servants with Allah in these mentioned attributes. May Allah protect us from it.
