A Simplified Explanation of Sūrah Al-Kāfirūn from Al-Tafsīr Al-Muyassar

Al-Kāfirūn

Verse 1

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ

Say, O Messenger, to those who have disbelieved in Allāh and His Messenger: O you have disbelieved in Allāh….

Verse 2

لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

…I do not worship what you worship of idols and counterfeit objects of worship;

Verse 3

وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ

and none of you are worshipping [whom] I worship of a single worshipped god–Allāh, Lord of all creation, the only One deserving worship;

Verse 4

وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَا عَبَدْتُمْ

nor am I worshipping what you have worshipped of idols and false objects of worship;

Verse 5

وَلَا أَنْتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ

and in the future, you will not be worshipping [whom] I worship.

This verse was revealed with regard to particular individuals from among those who worshipped other than Allāh; Allāh knew they would never become believers.

Verse 6

لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ

To you is your religion that you have been fixed upon following, and to me is my religion other than which I seek none.

Source: Al-Tafsīr Al-Muyassar. King Fahd Qurʾān Printing Complex. Madīnah: 1433 H.