Quran Universe
6:106

ٱتَّبِعۡ مَآ أُوحِيَ إِلَيۡكَ مِن رَّبِّكَۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ وَأَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ

IttabiAA ma oohiya ilayka min rabbika la ilaha illa huwa waaAArid AAani almushrikeena

Follow, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no deity except Him - and turn away from those who associate others with Allah.

Word by word
  1. ٱتَّبِعۡFollow
  2. مَآwhat
  3. أُوحِيَhas been inspired
  4. إِلَيۡكَto you
  5. مِنfrom
  6. رَّبِّكَۖyour Lord
  7. لَآ(there is) no
  8. إِلَٰهَgod
  9. إِلَّاexcept
  10. هُوَۖHim
  11. وَأَعۡرِضۡand turn away
  12. عَنِfrom
  13. ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَthe polytheists
Al-An'am · 6:106Makkah

Follow what was revealed, and turn away from the mockers.

Stick to revelation, and stop chasing every insult

Two commands
follow the revelationobey it, act on it
no god but Him
and
turn asideforgive, endure their harm
Where energy goes
answer every attackwin every argument
keep followingpatient till relief comes

In the hardest years in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ is told: follow what has been revealed to you, and turn aside from those who join partners with Allah. Ibn Kathir explains turning aside as forgiving them, being patient, and enduring their harm until Allah brings relief and support.

Someone at work mocks your prayer breaks. A cousin keeps sending sarcastic memes. You draft long replies in your head every night. Keep doing what is right, and let the rest go past you. Patience is not losing.

If I do not answer every jab, I am letting them win.

My job is to keep following the truth. Turning aside can be strength.

Try this

Delete one reply you were going to send to someone who mocked you. Pray instead.

Related88:2113:40
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

Follow what has been inspired (revealed) to you from your Lord, none has the right to be worshipped but He, and turn aside from the idolators (106)Had Allah willed, they would not have taken others besides Him in worship. And We have not made you 'Hafīz' over them nor are you set over them to dispose of their affairs (107)

The Command to Follow the Revelation

Allah commands His Messenger and those who followed his path,

اتَّبِعْ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ

(Follow what has been inspired to you from your Lord,) meaning, follow it, obey it and act according to it. What has been revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth, no doubt, and there is no deity worthy of worship except Him,

وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(and turn aside from the idolators) meaning, forgive them, be forbearing and endure their harm until Allah brings relief to you, supports you and makes you triumphant over them. Know – O Muhammad ﷺ – that there is a wisdom behind misleading the idolators, and that had Allah willed, He would have directed all people to guidance,

وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا أَشْرَكُوا

(Had Allah willed, they would not have taken others besides Him in worship.)

Allah's is the perfect will and wisdom in all decrees and decisions, and He is never questioned about what He does, while they all will be questioned. Allah's statement,

وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا

(And We have not made you 'Hafīz' over them.) means, a watcher who observes their statements and deeds,

وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ

(Nor are you set over them to dispose of their affairs.) or to control their provision. Rather, your only job is to convey, just as Allah said,

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ - لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ

(So remind them, you are only one who reminds. You are not a dictator over them.)[88:21-22] and,

فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ

(Your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning.)[13:40]