As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Surah Al-Kafirun
In the Name of Alldh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
1. Say: "0 you disbelievers!
2. I worship not that which you worship.
3. Nor will you worship that which I worship.
4. And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.
5. Nor will you worship that which I worship.
6. To you be your religion, and to me my religion.
Its Name
It is called Surah Al-Kaftrun because Allah Almighty ordered His Prophet Muhammad
to address the disbelievers, telling them that he will not worship the idols and statues that they worship:
"Say: '0 you disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship ... " It is also called Surat Al-Ikhlas and Surat Al-Munabatha (the rejection) and Al-Bara'ah (the innocence) from Shirk.
The Subject Matter Of This Surah
It is a Surah about Tawhid and declaring one's innocence from Shirk and misguidance. The idolators of Makkah invited Allah's Messenger
to a truce, requesting him to worship their gods for one year in return for them worshipping his God for one year. This Surah was revealed to put a stop to the ambitions of the disbelievers, making a distinction between the people of faith and the worshippers of idols, and it rejects the base offer that was presented by the disbelievers for the present and future.
Its Relation to What is Before It
In the previous Surah, Allah Almighty ordered us to sincerely worship Him Almighty alone, without associating any partners with Him. In this Surah, the Surah of Tawhid and innocence from Shirk, Allah makes it clear that our worship is different, independent, and autonomous from the worship of the disbelievers, for the Prophet
and his followers worship Allah Almighty alone: they worship neither the statues nor the idols of the disbelievers. This point is emphasized through repetition, and it ends by clearly stating that the Prophet
has his religion, while they have theirs.
The Virtues Of This Surah
It is established that Allah's Messenger
read this Surah along with Qui Huwallahu Ahad (Surah 112) on the following occasions:
1) In the two units of prayer made after Tawaf
2) In the two units of the Fajr (Sunnah) prayer.
3) In the two units (Sunnah) that follow the Maghrib prayer.
4) And he
would perform the Witr prayer by reciting, Sabbih, Qui Yaa-Ayuhai-Kaafiroon, and Qui Huwallahu Ahad.
In What Context Was This Surah Revealed ,
Abdur-Razzaaq reported that Wahb said, "The disbelievers of Quraish said to the Messenger of Allah
'If it would please you to follow us for a year and then for us to return to your religion for a year.' And so Allah Almighty revealed:
Say: 0 you disbelievers ..."
There are other narrations as well, and though they are slightly different, they impart a similar meaning.
The Meanings Of its Words
Qul: Say (0 Muhammad
).
Yaa-Ayuhai-Kaafiroon: The leaders of Shirk in Makkah.
Laa A'budu Maa Ta'budoon: I worship not that which you worship - in the future.
Wa laa Antum 'Aabidoona Maa A'bud: Nor will you worship that which I worship - in the future and the present. It has been said that the previous two phrases are meant to emphasize the same point. It has also been said that verses 2 and 3 point to the different objects of worship, for the Prophet
worships Allah alone, while the disbelievers worship statues and idols. Meanwhile, verses 4 and 5 point to the difference in worship itself, for the worship of the Prophet ~ is pure for Allah Almighty alone - it is not corrupted by Shirk or by forgetfulness; their worship, however, is Shirk in its entirety, so the two different kinds of worship can never meet.
Lakum Deenukum: To you be your religion - the Shirk that you follow.
Wa Liya Deen: And to me my religion - Tawhid and Islam, which I follow, and which I do not reject.
What Can Be Derived From These Verses
1) The belief in divine Preordainment and Decree is established here for both the disbeliever and the believer.
2) Allah Almighty protected the Prophet ~ from accepting the evil proposal of the disbelievers.
3) A clear distinction must be made between the people of faith and the people of disbelief and Shirk.
Important Note
Ar-Razi said, "When people disagree with one another these days, they say the phrase, 'To you be your religion, and to me my religion.' This practice is forbidden; the Qur'an was not revealed to be quoted in such a way; rather, it was revealed to be reflected upon and to be applied." (Tafsir Ar-Razi 22:148)
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