Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:56

"O My servants who..."

The meaning of the verse: If a believer finds that worship is not facilitated for them in the land where they reside, and their religious affairs do not proceed as they desire, they should emigrate from it to a land where they can be sounder in heart, more correct in religion, more abundant in worship, and better in humility.

By my life, places vary greatly in this regard. We have experienced it, and our predecessors have experienced it, and we have not found—in all our travels and theirs—anything more helpful in subduing the self, resisting desire, gathering the distracted heart, containing scattered anxieties, encouraging contentment, repelling Satan, distancing one from many tribulations, and securing religious affairs in general, than dwelling in the Sanctuary of Allah and being in the vicinity of the House of Allah. To Allah belongs all praise for what He has facilitated and brought near, for the patience He has granted, and for the gratitude He has inspired.

It is narrated from the Prophet (ﷺ): "Whoever flees with his religion from one land to another, even if it be by a span of earth, deserves Paradise and will be a companion of Ibrahim and Muhammad."

It is also said: This refers to the oppressed in Mecca, regarding whom it was revealed: "Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?" (An-Nisa: 97). This was because their religious affairs could not be established while they were among the disbelievers.

"So Me, worship" (فإياي فاعبدون): This is in the first person, similar to "Him I struck" (إياه ضربته) in the third person, and "You I bit" (إياك عضتك) in the second person. The structure is: "Me, worship" (فإياي فاعبدوا), then "worship Me" (فاعبدون).

If you ask: What is the meaning of the fa (ف) in "So worship" (فاعبدون) and the fronting of the object?

I say: The fa is the response to an omitted conditional clause. The meaning is: "If My earth is spacious, and you cannot perform pure worship to Me in one land, then perform it for Me in another." The condition was then omitted, and the fronting of the object was used as a substitute for that omission, while also conveying the meaning of exclusivity and sincerity.

"Every soul shall taste death; then to Us you will be returned."