Az-Zumar: (14) Say, "Allah [alone] I worship..."

(Say, "Allah I worship")—meaning none other than Him, may He be glorified, neither independently nor by association—(being sincere to Him in my religion).

This is a circumstantial qualifier (hal) from the subject of "I worship." It has been said that it is a corroborative (mu'akkidah) [statement], for the fronting of the object has already conveyed exclusivity (hasr), which indicates his sincerity away from both manifest and hidden polytheism. It has also been said that it is foundational (mu'assisah).

The "sincerity of religion to Him, the Exalted," is interpreted as worshipping Him, may He be glorified, for His Essence alone, without seeking anything [in return], as in the saying of Rabi‘ah: "Glory be to You, I have not worshipped You out of fear of Your punishment, nor out of hope for Your reward." Alternatively, it is interpreted as stripping it of polytheism in both its categories, and that it should be free from anything that blemishes it, other than that—as was indicated just before.

The difference between this [verse] and His saying, the Exalted: "Say, 'Indeed, I have been commanded...'" is that the former is a command to declare that he, peace and blessings be upon him, has been commanded to worship Him, the Exalted, while being sincere to Him in religion. This [verse] is a command to inform them of his compliance with the command in the most eloquent and emphatic manner, in order to demonstrate his firmness, peace and blessings be upon him, in the religion, and to cut off their vain greed—as the disbelievers of Quraysh had invited him, peace and blessings be upon him, to their religion, and so this was revealed for that reason—and as a prelude to threatening them with His saying, the Mighty and Majestic...