سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 56
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿56﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
خَلَقْتُ
khalaqtu
I have created
ٱلْجِنَّ
l-jina
the jinn
وَٱلْإِنسَ
wal-insa
and the mankind
إِلَّا
illā
except
لِيَعْبُدُونِ
liyaʿbudūni
that they worship Me
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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 56) ➊ { وَ مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ:} In this verse, it is stated what kind of admonition should be given and what should be reminded. It is said: Remind them that I have only created jinn and mankind so that they may worship Me.
➋ The meaning of worship is servitude. In Arabic, a slave is called "abd" and in Persian, "banda." Worship is the relationship that a slave has with his master or an "abd" has with his Lord.
➌ Everything in the universe is bound by the command of the Lord Almighty; no one has the power to deviate even an atom's worth. When He intends something, He says {’’كُنْ‘‘} to it and it becomes. This intention is called "irada-e-kawniyyah" and this command is called "takwini hukm." It is said: « اِنَّمَااَمْرُهٗۤ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ لَهٗ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ » [ یٰسٓ : ۸۲ ] "His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
➍ In most matters, humans and jinn are also bound by Allah Almighty's "irada-e-kawniyyah" and "takwini hukm" just like all other things; they have no say in their birth, age, sustenance, health, illness, or the functions and abilities of their limbs. However, for the purpose of testing, Allah Almighty has granted both of them a certain degree of choice and, through His messengers, has given some commands for living life: I am your Lord and you are My slaves; I am your Master and you are My servants; therefore, you must live your lives in My servitude and worship. This command of Allah Almighty is called "hukm shar'i" and this intention is called "irada-e-shar'iyyah." Man has the choice to obey this command and fulfill this intention, or to disobey this command and not fulfill this intention. He will be questioned about this choice and will become deserving of reward or punishment. It is said: «الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَ الْحَيٰوةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا » [ الملک : ۲ ] "He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed." Allah Almighty sent prophets as reminders for this and said: « وَ مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ» "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me." That is, My purpose and "irada-e-shar'iyyah" in creating both of them is that they worship Me and live their entire lives according to My commands.
➎ Some people consider only bowing and prostration, standing, remembrance, prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj, etc., as worship. No doubt, these are also acts of worship, but worship is not limited to these alone. Rather, obedience to any command given by Allah Almighty is worship, because the meaning of servitude and worship is to act upon the command, even the gesture, of the Master. One who does not obey the Master's command, what kind of slave is he? And one who does not act upon his Lord's command, what kind of "abd" is he? The person who prays in the mosque but follows his own will at home, in the market, and in the court, is neither the servant of the Lord nor His "abd." Yes, if he acts upon His command in every matter, then every act of his is worship—even not just prayer, but his eating, drinking, sleeping, and intimacy with his wife are also worship, because by acting upon the Lord's command, he avoided the forbidden that the Master prohibited, and fulfilled his desire in accordance with his Master's command. This is servitude and this is worship.
➏ The very first demand of the Lord Almighty from His servants is that they accept Him alone as their Lord and Master, and do not associate anyone with Him. That is why Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) explained the verse (21) of Surah Al-Baqarah: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوْا رَبَّكُمُ» as: {’’أَيْ وَحِّدُوْا رَبَّكُمْ‘‘} "That is, consider your Lord as One." (Tabari, with a good chain) And Allah Almighty said: « وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَّسُوْلٍ اِلَّا نُوْحِيْۤ اِلَيْهِ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدُوْنِ » [ الأنبیاء : ۲۵ ] "And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
➋ The meaning of worship is servitude. In Arabic, a slave is called "abd" and in Persian, "banda." Worship is the relationship that a slave has with his master or an "abd" has with his Lord.
➌ Everything in the universe is bound by the command of the Lord Almighty; no one has the power to deviate even an atom's worth. When He intends something, He says {’’كُنْ‘‘} to it and it becomes. This intention is called "irada-e-kawniyyah" and this command is called "takwini hukm." It is said: « اِنَّمَااَمْرُهٗۤ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا اَنْ يَّقُوْلَ لَهٗ كُنْ فَيَكُوْنُ » [ یٰسٓ : ۸۲ ] "His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is."
➍ In most matters, humans and jinn are also bound by Allah Almighty's "irada-e-kawniyyah" and "takwini hukm" just like all other things; they have no say in their birth, age, sustenance, health, illness, or the functions and abilities of their limbs. However, for the purpose of testing, Allah Almighty has granted both of them a certain degree of choice and, through His messengers, has given some commands for living life: I am your Lord and you are My slaves; I am your Master and you are My servants; therefore, you must live your lives in My servitude and worship. This command of Allah Almighty is called "hukm shar'i" and this intention is called "irada-e-shar'iyyah." Man has the choice to obey this command and fulfill this intention, or to disobey this command and not fulfill this intention. He will be questioned about this choice and will become deserving of reward or punishment. It is said: «الَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَ الْحَيٰوةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا » [ الملک : ۲ ] "He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed." Allah Almighty sent prophets as reminders for this and said: « وَ مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوْنِ» "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me." That is, My purpose and "irada-e-shar'iyyah" in creating both of them is that they worship Me and live their entire lives according to My commands.
➎ Some people consider only bowing and prostration, standing, remembrance, prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj, etc., as worship. No doubt, these are also acts of worship, but worship is not limited to these alone. Rather, obedience to any command given by Allah Almighty is worship, because the meaning of servitude and worship is to act upon the command, even the gesture, of the Master. One who does not obey the Master's command, what kind of slave is he? And one who does not act upon his Lord's command, what kind of "abd" is he? The person who prays in the mosque but follows his own will at home, in the market, and in the court, is neither the servant of the Lord nor His "abd." Yes, if he acts upon His command in every matter, then every act of his is worship—even not just prayer, but his eating, drinking, sleeping, and intimacy with his wife are also worship, because by acting upon the Lord's command, he avoided the forbidden that the Master prohibited, and fulfilled his desire in accordance with his Master's command. This is servitude and this is worship.
➏ The very first demand of the Lord Almighty from His servants is that they accept Him alone as their Lord and Master, and do not associate anyone with Him. That is why Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) explained the verse (21) of Surah Al-Baqarah: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوْا رَبَّكُمُ» as: {’’أَيْ وَحِّدُوْا رَبَّكُمْ‘‘} "That is, consider your Lord as One." (Tabari, with a good chain) And Allah Almighty said: « وَ مَاۤ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَّسُوْلٍ اِلَّا نُوْحِيْۤ اِلَيْهِ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعْبُدُوْنِ » [ الأنبیاء : ۲۵ ] "And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
