Item 1 in Ten Ethical Injunctions in Qur'an 6:151–153
Do Not Associate Partners with God
Do not direct worship to another being as a partner with God.
- Position
- 1
- Form
- Prohibition
- Obligation
- Mandatory
- Wording status
- Editorial paraphrase
- Intended audience
- The Qur'anic audience and Muslims generally
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Canonical name: Do Not Associate Partners with God
Source wording
Editorial paraphrase: Do not direct worship to another being as a partner with God.
Literal meaning
Do not direct worship to another being as a partner with God.
Broader interpretation
This item should be interpreted within the historical purpose, intended audience and wider structure of its parent ethical framework.
Historical context
This item belongs to Ten Ethical Injunctions in Qur'an 6:151–153. Seventh-century Qur'anic revelation; Arabian Peninsula.
Practical meaning
Practical application requires attention to intention, consent, evidence, rights, foreseeable effects and the needs of all persons or beings affected.
Ethical purpose
To shape conduct, judgment or character in a way consistent with the wider framework.
Exceptions and disputes
Religious commitment cannot justify coercing people of other beliefs or no belief.
Variations across schools or traditions
Wording and interpretation may vary between translations, denominations, schools and historical periods.
Modern application
Modern application should distinguish the historical formulation from present legal, social and ethical conditions.
Criticism and difficult cases
Religious commitment cannot justify coercing people of other beliefs or no belief.
Truth By Reason analysis
Truth By Reason assesses this principle through evidence, intentions, rights, foreseeable consequences, consistency and the treatment of all affected beings.
Ethical themes
Sources
- Qur'an 6:151–153 Primary source