Surah Al-Kafirun - The Disbelievers
(Revealed at Mecca)
6 Verses in 1 Section
Sections of Surah Al-Kafirun
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One’s Religion to one’s self
Al-Kafirun - One’s Religion To Oneself
The disbelievers not to worry about the believers, who will have their own religion.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
“In the name of God the Beneficent the Merciful”
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
“Say thou (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad!) ‘‘O’ ye who disbelieve!” (109:1)
لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
“I worship not what ye worship!” (109:2)
وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
“Nor worship ye Whom I worship!” (109:3)
وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَا عَبَدْتُمْ
“Nor shall I worship whom ye worship,” (109:4)
وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ
“Nor will worship ye Whom I worship” (109:5)
لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ
“Unto ye be your religion, and unto me my religion1“ (109:6)
Commentary
Verse 1
The disbelievers viz, Omayya Ibn Khalaf, Walid Ibn Moghaira, Aas and Aqbuh Ibn Rabi’a and a party of the Quraysh had told the Holy Prophet to worship what they worship, and they will worship what he worshipped, so that each might have a share in the truth or the falsehood of the other. This Surah was revealed.
It is said that Abu-Shakir asked Abu Ja’far why is the same proposition repeated in this Surah which act is opposed to the excellence of eloquence. Abu Ja’far went to the Sixth Holy Imam Ja’far Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq and asked the answer for it. The Holy Imam said, “the repetition in the Surah is just in reply to repetition in the proposal by the disbelievers who told the Holy Prophet that he should worship for one year what they worship and the other year they will worship what he worshipped”.
The statements in this Surah are purely logical, that the Holy Prophet having himself preached the truth, can never naturally or reasonably yield to falsehood and the disbelievers being attached to their own fancies and vested interest could not act according to the truth they were ever opposed to.
As religion or faith, is a matter exclusively of conviction and not a matter to be adjusted to suit any exigencies of any social or political situation, or any material advantage or for fear of any loss or any worldly gain. The one with the knowledge of the truth, can never give way for any other consideration or purpose.
The Chapter declares that there is no way for any compromise between the right and the wrong nor there could be any compulsion in conviction. This conforms with 2:256. (A.P.).
