Al-Kafirun: (6) For you is your religion, and for me is mine...

There are several issues concerning this verse:

Ibn Abbas said: "For you is your disbelief in Allah, and for me is the pure monotheism (Tawhid) and sincerity to Him."

If it is argued: Did the Prophet (peace be upon him) permit them to disbelieve? The answer is no, because he was sent only to forbid disbelief. How could he permit it?

Rather, the meaning intended is one of the following:

1. Threat (Tahdid): It is a form of threatening, like saying, "Do whatever you wish."
2. Separation and Cessation of Invitation: It is as if he is saying: "I am a Prophet sent to you to call you to the truth and salvation. If you do not accept me and do not follow me, then leave me alone and do not invite me to polytheism (Shirk)."
3. Consequence of Choice: "{For you is your religion}"—remain upon it if destruction is better for you. "{And for me is my religion}"—for I will not abandon it.

The Second View: The religion (Din) here means the Reckoning (Hisab). That is, "For you is your reckoning, and for me is my reckoning." Nothing from one person's deeds will affect the other in the slightest.

The Third View: It is based on an implied omission of a noun (Taqdir hadhf al-mudad): "For you is the recompense of your religion, and for me is the recompense of my religion." They will have the recompense of their religion as burden and punishment, just as you will have the recompense of your religion as glorification and reward.

The Fourth View: Religion (Din) means Punishment ('Uqubah). (This is supported by the verse in Al-'Ankabut: "And do not let pity for them keep you from the religion of Allah, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day.")

The Fifth View: Religion (Din) means Supplication (Du'a). "So supplicate to Allah, making the religion purely for Him." Thus, "For you is your supplication" (and your supplications are in vain, as in: "And the supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but in error"). And if you call them, they do not hear your call; and even if they heard, they would not respond to you. Then, may this state remain so that they do not harm you. Rather, on the Day of Resurrection, they will find a tongue to deny your Shirk. As for my Lord, He says: "And He answers those who believe," "Call upon Me; I will respond to you," and "Answer the call of the caller when he calls upon Me."

The Sixth View: Religion (Din) means Custom/Habit ('Adah). The poet said:

He said to her when her saddle shifted: "Is this her custom, and my custom?" This means: For you is your custom taken from your ancestors and the devils, and for me is my custom taken from the angels and revelation. Then each of us will remain upon his custom until you meet the devils and the Fire, and I meet the angels and Paradise.

The statement "{For you is your religion}" implies restriction (Hasr). Its meaning is: Your religion is exclusively for you, and not for anyone else, and my religion is exclusively for me, and not for anyone else. This points to the verse: "And that no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another," meaning I am commanded with revelation and conveying the message, and you are commanded with compliance and acceptance. Since I have done what I was commanded, I am free from the responsibility of the obligation. As for your insistence on your disbelief, that is something from which no harm will reach me whatsoever.

It has become the custom of people to use this verse as a parting phrase when separating from one another. This is not permissible because Allah did not reveal the Qur'an to be used as a mere saying, but rather to be contemplated, then acted upon according to its guidance. And Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, knows best and is the most Wise. And peace and blessings be upon our Master, his family, and his companions.