Quran Universe
39:11

قُلۡ إِنِّيٓ أُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصٗا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ

Qul innee omirtu an aAAbuda Allaha mukhlisan lahu alddeena

Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.

Word by word
  1. قُلۡSay
  2. إِنِّيٓIndeed,I
  3. أُمِرۡتُ[I] am commanded
  4. أَنۡthat
  5. أَعۡبُدَI worship
  6. ٱللَّهَAllah
  7. مُخۡلِصٗا(being) sincere
  8. لَّهُto Him
  9. ٱلدِّينَ(in) the religion
Az-Zumar · 39:11Makkah

The Messenger says it first about himself.

The teacher is under the same order

The command
the Prophet ﷺtold to say
I am commanded
worship Allahsincere to Him in religion
Who the rule is for
rules for othersthe preacher is exempt
the same orderhe says it of himself first

Ibn Kathir explains the meaning: I am commanded to worship Allah alone in all sincerity, with no partner. The Prophet ﷺ is told to announce it as his own duty before calling others to it.

You tell your little brother to put his phone down at dinner, with yours glowing in your lap. You give advice in the family group chat that you skip yourself. Start with I am commanded.

I know what others should be doing.

The first person the message is for is me.

Try this

Pick one piece of advice you often give others and follow it yourself today.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 39:10)

Say: "O My servants who believe, have Taqwa of your Lord. Good is for those who do good in this world, and Allah's earth is spacious! Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning. (10)Say: "Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah, making religion sincerely for Him. (11)"And I am commanded (this) in order that I may be the first of the Musli (12)

The Command for Taqwa, Emigration and to worship Him alone with all Sincerity

Allah commands His believing servants to remain steadfast in their obedience and have Taqwa of Him.

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ ۗ 

(Say: "O My servants who believe, have Taqwa of your Lord. Good is for those who do good in this world...") means, the one who does good deeds in this world, will have a good (reward) in this world and in the Hereafter.

وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةٌ ۗ 

(and Allah's earth is spacious!) Mujahid said, "So emigrate through it and strive hard and keep away from idols."

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

(Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.) Al-'Awza'i said, "Their reward will not be weighed or measured; they will be given an immense reward." As-Suddi said:

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

(Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.) means, "In Paradise."

قُلْ إِنِّي أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ

(Say: "Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah, making religion sincerely for Him...") means, 'I am commanded to worship Allah alone in all sincerity, with no partner or associate.'

وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

(And I am commanded (this) in order that I may be the first of the Muslims.)