These continuous explanations of the Qur'an do not leave any room whatever for the doubt that the verse Lakum dims kum wa liya din dces not mean: 'You may go on following your religion and allow me to follow mine', but it is the kind of declaration made in Surah Az-Zumar: 14: 'O Prophet, say to them: I shall serve Allah alone, making my religion sincerely His. Then the same lesson was taught in Madinah to aII the Muslims: 'There is indeed an excellent example for you in Abraham and his companions when they said to their people plainly: `We have nothing to do with you and your gods, whom you worship beside God: we have renounced you and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah, the One.' (Al-Mumtahinah: 4).

Soon you shall come to know as to whom comes the disgraceful torment and who gets the enduring punishment.' (w. In Surah az-Zumar: 'Tell them plainly: O my people, do whatever you will, so shall 1. Say, our Lord will gather us together, then He will judge between us rightly.' (w. In Surah Saba it was said: 'Say to them: you will not be questioned for the errors we have committed, nor shall we be answerable for what you are doing. In Surah Ash-Shu'ara it was said: 'If they disobey you, tell them: I am not responsible for what you do.' (v. Then further on in the same Surah it was said: 'O Prophet, say: O mankind, if you are still in doubt concerning my Faith, know that I do not worship those whom you worship beside Allah, but I worship that Allah alone, Who has the power to cause your death.' (v. Thus, in Surah Yunus, it was said: 'If these people deny you, say to them: 1 am responsible for my deeds and you are responsible for yours: you are not accountable for what I do, and I am not accountable for what you do.' (v.

This same declaration of immunity and expression of disgust has been made in the Makki Surahs revealed after this Surah successively. Its object is to disappoint them absolutely and finally that in the matter of religion the party of Allah's Messenger and his followers would ever come to terms with them. I cannot worship your gods and you are not prepared to worship my God, Therefore, you and I can never follow and walk one and the same path together.' This is not a message of tolerance to the disbelievers, but a declaration of immunity, disgust with and dissociation from them as long as they are disbelievers. I am not a worshipper of your gods and you are not worshippers of my God. *5) That is, 'My religion is entirely distinct and separate from your religion. (109:6) To you is your religion, and to me, my religion. Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

Surah al kafirun transliteration