Ash-Shuraa · Makki · ayah 15 of 53

Ash-Shuraa 42:15

فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

“So to that [religion of Allāh] invite, [O Muḥammad],[1414] and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allāh has revealed of scripture [i.e., the Qur’ān], and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allāh is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds.[1415] There is no [need for] argument between us and you.[1416] Allāh will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination."”

Saheeh International

Essence

Ten short clauses make a whole way of living among people who disagree: call, stay upright, be fair, and leave the verdict to Allah.

A reflection

One Lord over both sides of the argument

In a hard exchange with those who rejected the message, the Prophet ﷺ is told what to say. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. One commentary explains: He is our Owner and your Owner. Another adds: the Creator of all and the One who manages their affairs.

That sentence takes something away from both sides. It takes away the believer's temptation to treat the other side as if they answered to him. And it takes away the other side's illusion that they answer to no one. Both stand under the same Lord.

One commentary draws out a further point. We acknowledge His lordship by choice. You may not. But to Him prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. His lordship does not wait for anyone's agreement.

That should humble the ego in every religious argument. Picture a postgraduate who runs a debate night for her university's Islamic society. A visiting student challenges her, and she wins the exchange with ease. Walking home, she replays it with some satisfaction. Then she catches herself. She had spoken as though the student answered to her. He does not. They both answer to the same Lord, whether he believes it yet or not.

A sceptic might ask: if God is Lord of all regardless, why does He want anyone to acknowledge Him? The answer is in that commentary line. His lordship is complete without our acknowledgement. Acknowledging it does not add to Him. It changes us. It is the difference between living in a house you know is someone else's, and pretending it is yours.

The ayah then says: for us our deeds, for you yours; Allah will gather us, and to Him is the return. Each side carries its own account. Neither carries the other's. The believer's task is not to win, but to be ready for the gathering.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.