Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 14

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Say, “Would I take as guardian someone other than Allah Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Who feeds others, and is not fed by anyone?” Say, “I have been asked to be the first to submit (to Him) and never to be one of those who ascribe partners to Allah.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Will I take any guardian other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who provides for all and is not in need of provision?” Say, “I have been commanded to be the first to submit and not be one of the polytheists.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

Say [O Prophet], “Should I take any guardian other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and earth, Who feeds but is not fed?” Say, “I have been commanded to be the first to submit [to Allah] and not to be one of those who associate partners with Allah.”

A. J. Arberry

Say: 'Shall I take to myself as protector other than God, the Originator of the heavens and of the earth, He. who feeds and is not fed?' Say: 'I have been commanded to be the first of them that surrender: "Be not thou of the idolaters."'

Abdul Haleem

Say, ‘Shall I take for myself a protector other than God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds but is not fed?’ Say, ‘I am commanded to be the first [of you] to devote myself [to Him].’ Do not be one of the idolaters.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Say thou: Shall I take for a patron any other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth! And He feedeth, and is not fed. Say thou: I am commanded that I be the first who submitteth himself, and that: be thou not of the associaters.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Say; "Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And He it is that feedeth but is not fed." Say; "Nay! but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in Islam), and be not thou of the company of those who join gods with Allah."

Abul Ala Maududi

Say: 'Shall I take for my guardian anyone other than Allah - the Originator of the heavens and earth; He Who feeds and Himself is not fed?' Say: 'Surely I have been commanded to be the first among those who submit (to Allah) and not to be one of those who associate others with Allah in His divinity (even though others may do so).'

Ahmed Ali

Say: "Should I find some other protector besides God the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who nourishes all and is nourished by none? Say: "I am commanded to be the first to submit to Him, and not be an idolater."

Ahmed Raza Khan

Say, “Shall I choose as a supporter someone other than Allah, Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth and Who feeds and does not need to eat?” Say, “I have been ordered to be the first to submit myself (to Him), and O people, do not be of the polytheists.”

Ali Quli Qarai

Say, ‘Shall I take for guardian [anyone] other than Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds and is not fed?’ Say, ‘I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit [to Allah], and [told,] “Never be one of the polytheists.” ’

Ali Ünal

Say: "Shall I take for guardian and confidant anyone other than God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth each with particular features, and He Who feeds and Himself never needs to be fed?" Say: "Moreover, I have surely been ordered to be the foremost in submitting to Him wholly, and (I have been warned): ‘Do not be among those who associate partners with Him’."

Amatul Rahman Omar

Say, `Shall I take to myself a patron other than Allâh, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who feeds but is fed by none.´ Say, `I have surely been commanded that I be the first of those who submit (to God).´ (It has been said to them,) `Be not of those who associate partners with Allâh.´

English Literal

Say: "Is other than God, I take (as) a guardian , (the) creator (of) the skies/space and the earth/Planet Earth, and He feeds and is not fed." Say: "I was ordered/commanded that I be first (of) who surrendered/submitted, and do not be (E) from the sharers/takers of partners (with God)."

Faridul Haque

Say, “Shall I choose as a supporter someone other than Allah, Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth and Who feeds and does not need to eat?” Say, “I have been ordered to be the first to submit myself (to Him), and O people, do not be of the polytheists.”

Hamid S. Aziz

Say, "I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the retribution of an Awful Day."

Hilali & Khan

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Shall I take as a Wali (helper, protector, etc.) any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah (as Muslims)." And be not you (O Muhammad SAW) of the Mushrikun [polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah].

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And to Him belongs whatever dwells in the night and the day. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Say: Shall I take a guardian besides Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds (others) and is not (Himself) fed. Say: I am commanded to be the first who submits himself, and you should not be of the polytheists.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.

Muhammad Sarwar

(Muhammad), ask them, "Should I take a guardian other than God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds everyone and who needs no food Himself?" Say, "I have been commanded to be the first Muslim (submitted to the will of God). Thus, people, do not be pagans."

Qaribullah & Darwish

Say: 'Should I take any but Allah for a guardian? He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. He feeds and is not fed' Say: 'I was commanded to be the first to submit to Him' Do not be one of the idolaters.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Say: "Shall I take as a guardian any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit. "And be not you of the idolators.

Wahiduddin Khan

Say, "Shall I take as my protector someone other than God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds all and is fed by none?" Say, "I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit. Do not be one of the polytheists."

Talal Itani

Say, “Shall I take for myself a protector other than God, Originator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds and is not fed?” Say, “I am instructed to be the first of those who submit.” And do not be among the idolaters.

Tafsir jalalayn

Say, to them; `Shall I take as a protector, to worship, other than God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who has created them without any precedent, He Who feeds, Who gives sustenance, and is not fed?', and is not given sustenance. Say; `I have been commanded to be the first to submit, to God, from among this community, and, it was said to me; "Do not be among those who associate others" ', with Him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ أَتَّخِذُ وَلِيًّا فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ

Say;"Shall I take as a guardian any other than Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth!"

The meaning here is, I will not take a guardian except Allah, without partners, for He is the Creator of the heavens and earth Who originated them without precedent,

Similarly, Allah said,

قُلْ أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُونِّى أَعْبُدُ أَيُّهَا الْجَـهِلُونَ

Say;"Do you order me to worship other than Allah, O you fools!" (39;64)

وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ

And it is He Who feeds but is not fed.

For He sustains His creatures without needing them.

Allah also said;

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالاِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ

And I created not the Jinn and humans except that they should worship Me (Alone). (51;56)

Some scholars read it,

وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا

يَطْعَمُ

And it is He Who feeds but He does not eat."

meaning, Allah does not eat.

Abu Hurayrah narrated,

"A man from Al-Ansar from the area of Quba' invited the Prophet to eat some food, and we went along with the Prophet. When the Prophet ate and washed his hands, he said,

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُ وَمَنَّ عَلَيْنَا فَهَدَانَا وَأَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا مِنَ الشَّرَابِ وَكَسَانَا مِنَ العُرْيِ وَكُلَّ بَلَءٍ حَسَنٍ أَبْلَنَا

الْحَمْدُ للهِ غَيْرَ مُوَدَّعٍ رَبِّي وَلَا مُكَافأً وَلَا مَكْفُورٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ

الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَسَقَانَا مِنَ الشَّرَابِ وَكَسَانَا مِنَ الْعُرْيِ وَهَدَانَا مِنَ الضَّلَلِ وَبَصَّرَنَا مِنَ العَمَى وَفَضَّلَنَا عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنَ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلً

الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين

All praise is due to Allah, Who feeds but is never fed, He bestowed bounty unto us, Who gave us guidance and fed us, gave us something to drink, covered our nakedness; and for every favor He has given us.

All praise is due to Allah, praise that should not be neglected, my Lord, all the while affirming that we will never be able to duly thank Him; nor be appreciative enough of Him, nor be free of needing Him.

All thanks and praises are due to Allah Who fed us the food, gave us the drink, covered our nudity, guided us from misguidance, gave us sight from blindness, and honored us above many of His creatures.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all that exists."

قُلْ إِنِّيَ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ

Say;"Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allah as (Muslims)."

from this Ummah,

وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكَينَ



قُلْ إِنِّيَ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ