40:66

۞قُلۡ إِنِّي نُهِيتُ أَنۡ أَعۡبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِيَ ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُ مِن رَّبِّي وَأُمِرۡتُ أَنۡ أُسۡلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

Qul innee nuheetu an aAAbuda allatheena tadAAoona min dooni Allahi lamma jaaniya albayyinatu min rabbee waomirtu an oslima lirabbi alAAalameena

Say, [O Muhammad], "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah once the clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."

Word by word
  1. ۞قُلۡSay
  2. إِنِّيIndeed,I
  3. نُهِيتُ[I] have been forbidden
  4. أَنۡto
  5. أَعۡبُدَworship
  6. ٱلَّذِينَthose whom
  7. تَدۡعُونَyou call
  8. مِنbesides
  9. دُونِbesides
  10. ٱللَّهِAllah
  11. لَمَّاwhen
  12. جَآءَنِيَhave come to me
  13. ٱلۡبَيِّنَٰتُthe clear proofs
  14. مِنfrom
  15. رَّبِّيmy Lord
  16. وَأُمِرۡتُand I am commanded
  17. أَنۡto
  18. أُسۡلِمَsubmit
  19. لِرَبِّto (the) Lord
  20. ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ(of) the worlds
Ghafir · 40:66Makkah

Once clear proof came, I could not worship anything else.

The Prophet ﷺ states his position plainly


The Prophet's ﷺ answer
clear proofscame from my Lord
so
other godsforbidden to me
submitto the Lord of the worlds
After you know
keep both optionsjust in case
committhe proof decided it

Ibn Kathir says the Prophet ﷺ is told to tell the idol worshippers that Allah forbids worshipping idols and false gods besides Him. Then the next verses give the evidence: no one but Him deserves worship.

You know what is true but keep a back door open: the old habit, the lucky charm, the it cannot hurt. The Prophet ﷺ shows the next step after knowing: commit.

I can know the truth and still keep my options open.

Once the proof is clear, the honest step is to submit fully.

Try this

Close one back door today: an old habit or charm that competes with your trust in Allah.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

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 (66)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 (67)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 (68)

The Prohibition of Shirk, the Order for Tawhid, and the Evidence

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:

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوا أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا شُيُوخًا ۚ 

(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.

وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِنْ قَبْلُ ۖ 

(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:

لِنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِي الْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَاءُ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى

(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).

وَلِتَبْلُغُوا أَجَلًا مُسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

(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:

هُوَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ۖ 

(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.

 فَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ

(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.