Al-Kafirun · Makki · ayah 6 of 6

Al-Kafirun 109:6

لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِىَ دِينِ

“For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."”

Saheeh International

Essence

Not a shrug and not a sword: a clear line drawn calmly, where each side keeps its own way and answers for it.

A reflection

Is this intolerant?

The objection: after 'O disbelievers' and four refusals, this sounds like a door slammed. Us and them. And some classical scholars thought it belonged to a period before fighting was ordained, and was later cancelled.

The context matters. The surah answered an offer to merge worship. The line it draws refuses to mix worship, not to live beside people. Nothing here compels anyone: 'to you your religion'. Classical commentators paraphrase it: I was sent to call you to safety. If you will not accept, then leave me be, and do not call me to your gods. Others link it to 28:55. 'For us our deeds, and for you your deeds.'

One commentator even notes that the surah opens hard and ends soft. It begins with a stern address and a repeated refusal, then closes almost gently. I have warned you fully and fallen short in nothing. If you will not accept, then leave me as I leave you.

Picture colleagues of different faiths in one office. You go to the leaving party and share the cake. You do not recite another person's prayer, and they do not recite yours. Everyone knows where the boundary is, and no one is harmed by it.

What remains open: some scholars record the view that the ayah was abrogated. Others reject that strongly. One of them argues it was never an approval of other religions, only a disavowal, so there was nothing to cancel. On that reading, 'to you your religion, and to me mine' stays true between believers and disbelievers for all time. It is a statement of where each stands, not a treaty that could expire.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.