Quran Universe
39:12

وَأُمِرۡتُ لِأَنۡ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

Waomirtu lian akoona awwala almuslimeena

And I have been commanded to be the first [among you] of the Muslims."

Word by word
  1. وَأُمِرۡتُAnd I am commanded
  2. لِأَنۡthat
  3. أَكُونَI be
  4. أَوَّلَ(the) first
  5. ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ(of) those who submit
Az-Zumar · 39:12Makkah

Be the first to submit, not the last to follow.

Leading by going first

The order of things
the Prophet ﷺcommanded
to be
the firstof those who submit
Two ways to wait
I will once others dowaiting for a crowd
I go firstsubmission before anyone

In Makkah almost no one around him had accepted. Still, the command was to be the first of the Muslims, submitting before anyone else, whether others came or not.

Your family has always prayed late. Your team always cuts the same corner. You wait for someone else to change first so you will not stand out. Someone has to be first.

I will start once the people around me start.

Submission does not wait for a crowd; I can be the first.

Try this

Be the first in your home to pray the next prayer on time, without saying anything.

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.)