Tafseer of Crouching · Al-Jaathiya · 45:18
Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The discourse on the explanation of His statement, the Exalted: ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ (Then We placed you upon a law (sharīʿa) concerning the matter; so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know) (18).
He, exalted is His mention, says to His Prophet Muḥammad, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him: Then We placed you, O Muḥammad, after what We gave to the Children of Israel, which I have described to you, عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأمْرِ — He says: upon a path, a practice, and a method from Our command, which We have enjoined upon those before you of Our messengers. فاتَّبِعْها — He says: so follow that law (sharīʿa) which We have instituted for you. وَلا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ — He says: and do not follow that to which the ignorant concerning Allah call you, those who cannot distinguish the truth from falsehood, so that you would act upon it and perish if you acted upon it.
And in accordance with what we have said regarding this, spoke the people of interpretation.
* Mention of who said that:
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا , he said: He says: upon guidance concerning the matter and a clear proof.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا : and the sharīʿa is the obligations (al-farāʾiḍ), the prescribed punishments (al-ḥudūd), the command and the prohibition; so follow it. وَلا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ .
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِنَ الأمْرِ , he said: the sharīʿa is the religion (al-dīn). And he recited شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ (He has ordained for you concerning the religion what He enjoined upon Noah, and what We have revealed to you); he said: Noah was the first of them and you are the last of them.
