Transliteration:( Qul innee nuheetu an a'budal lazeena tad'oona min doonil laahi lammaa jaaa'a niyal baiyinaatu mir Rabbee wa umirtu an uslima li Rabbil 'aalameen )
"Please declare: 'I have been forbidden [168] to worship those whom you worship besides [169] Allah, since clear (170) arguments have come to me from My Lord. And I have been commanded to submit (171) only to the Lord of all the worlds.'"
This verse emphasizes that even before the formal Prophethood, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never engaged in idol worship. He was preserved from polytheism and followed the natural religion (Deen-e-Haneef), worshipping Allah alone. Hence, the command "I have been forbidden" refers to a state that existed even prior to Qur’anic revelation.
The phrase "worship besides Allah" refers not only to supplication but all forms of devotion—prostration, sacrifice, reliance, and obedience. The verse defines worship in its complete Islamic sense, and makes it clear that any devotion directed toward others besides Allah is polytheism (shirk).
The "clear arguments" mentioned here are both the logical proofs of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and the divine inspiration that the Prophet ﷺ received even before the Qur’an. This affirms that his inner guidance was already aligned with the truth, much like Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام who rejected celestial bodies as deities even in childhood.
The command to submit to the Lord of all the worlds includes all forms of worship and servitude. It confirms that the Prophet ﷺ had complete knowledge of true worship, and his mission was solely to guide others towards exclusive submission to Allah—without compromise, dilution, or innovation.
This verse reaffirms the absolute rejection of shirk, the purity of the Prophet’s monotheism, and his unwavering submission to Allah from the very beginning.
66. Say: “I have been forbidden to worship those whom you worship besides Allah, since there have come to me evidences from my Lord; and I am commanded to submit to the Lord of all that exists. 67. It is He, Who has created you from dust, then from a Nutfah then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old — though some among you die before — and that you reach an appointed term in order that you may understand. 68. It is He Who gives life and causes death. And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only: “Be!” – and it is.
Allah says, `say, O Muhammad, to these idolators, that Allah forbids them to worship anyone, such as these idols and false gods, except Him.’ Allah explains that no one apart from Him is deserving of worship, as He says:
(It is He, Who has created you from dust, then from a Nutfah then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old.) meaning, He is the One Who Alone, with no partner or associate, causes you to pass through these different stages, and this happens in accordance with His command, will and decree.
(though some among you die before) means, before being fully formed and emerging to this world; so his mother miscarries him. And there are some who die in infancy or in their youth, or when they are adults but before they reach old age, as Allah says:
(that We may make (it) clear to you. And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term) (22:5).
(and that you reach an appointed term in order that you may understand. ) Ibn Jurayj said, “In order that you may remember the Resurrection.” Then Allah says:
(It is He Who gives life and causes death.) meaning, He is the Only One Who does that, and none is able to do that except He.
(And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only: “Be!” — and it is.) means, He cannot be opposed or resisted. Whatever He wills definitely comes to pass.
(40:66) Say, (O Prophet): “I have been forbidden to worship those beside Allah whom you call upon.[95] (How can I worship any beside Allah) when clear Signs have come to me from my Lord and I have been commanded to surrender to Allah, the Lord of the Universe?”
95. Here again ibadat (worship) and dua (prayer) have been used as synonyms.
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