سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْعَامِ
Surah Al-An'aam (6) — Ayah 56
قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُل لَّآ أَتَّبِعُ أَهْوَآءَكُمْ ۙ قَدْ ضَلَلْتُ إِذًا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿56﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allâh." Say: "I will not follow your vain desires. If I did, I would go astray, and I would not be one of the rightly guided."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قُلْ
qul
Say
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed I
نُهِيتُ
nuhītu
[I] am forbidden
أَنْ
an
that
أَعْبُدَ
aʿbuda
I worship
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those whom
تَدْعُونَ
tadʿūna
you call
مِن
min
from
دُونِ
dūni
besides
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
Allah
قُل
qul
Say
لَّآ
lā
Not
أَتَّبِعُ
attabiʿu
I follow
أَهْوَآءَكُمْ ۙ
ahwāakum
your (vain) desires
قَدْ
qad
certainly
ضَلَلْتُ
ḍalaltu
I would go astray
إِذًۭا
idhan
then
وَمَآ
wamā
and not
أَنَا۠
anā
I (would be)
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
l-muh'tadīna
the guided-ones
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
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.
56. Say: "I am forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah." Say: "I will not follow your desires [60], for if I did, I would surely go astray and would not be among the guided."
[60]
What Was the Desire of the Criminals:
The polytheists of Makkah or the criminals wanted that some path of compromise should be found. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ should not insult our gods or deities, and we will not say anything to him. His ﷺ teaching was that these idols can neither harm nor benefit anyone, and this teaching not only insulted their idols but also their forefathers and themselves. That is why they were agitated. In response to this, Allah Almighty said: Tell them that neither can I fulfill your desire, nor can I honor these deities. I have only been commanded to sever people's ties from these gods and connect them to Allah. Then, if I myself act against divine revelation, I would no longer be among the rightly guided. How then could others be guided? And since this command has come to me from Allah, I cannot violate it at any cost.
[60]
What Was the Desire of the Criminals:
The polytheists of Makkah or the criminals wanted that some path of compromise should be found. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ should not insult our gods or deities, and we will not say anything to him. His ﷺ teaching was that these idols can neither harm nor benefit anyone, and this teaching not only insulted their idols but also their forefathers and themselves. That is why they were agitated. In response to this, Allah Almighty said: Tell them that neither can I fulfill your desire, nor can I honor these deities. I have only been commanded to sever people's ties from these gods and connect them to Allah. Then, if I myself act against divine revelation, I would no longer be among the rightly guided. How then could others be guided? And since this command has come to me from Allah, I cannot violate it at any cost.
