It is Meccan, and it consists of six verses. "It was revealed after Al-Ma'un," and it is said to be called along with Surah Al-Ikhlas: the two that free one from hypocrisy. 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.'

The addressed ones are specific disbelievers whom Allah knows will not believe. It is narrated that a group from Quraysh said: "O Muhammad, come, let us follow your religion and you follow our religion: we will worship our gods for a year and we will worship your God for a year." He said: "I seek refuge with Allah from associating anything with Him." They said: "Then kiss some of our gods, and we will believe you and worship your God." So it was revealed. He went to Al-Masjid Al-Haram where the leaders of Quraysh were present. He stood before them and recited it to them, and they despaired.

"I do not worship" means worship in what is to come, because "no" does not enter except on the present tense in the meaning of the future, just as "what" does not enter except on the present tense in the meaning of the present. Do you not see that "will not" is an emphasis on what "no" negates? Al-Khalil said regarding "will not": its origin is "no that." The meaning is: I will not do in the future what you request of me regarding the worship of your gods, nor will you do in it what I request of you regarding the worship of my God.

"And I am not a worshipper of what you have worshipped" means: and I have never been a worshipper in the past of what you worshipped. [Mawlana said: "Its meaning is in the future, because 'no' negates the future, nor are you worshippers of what I worship: likewise, nor am I a worshipper of what you worship: that is, in the past..." Ahmad said: What he said is incorrect in both the original and the branch: as for its original meaning, it implies that the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, was not upon the religion of any prophet before him, due to the belief of the Qadariyyah that this would be a defect in his position and a deterrent from following him, making its occurrence impossible due to the corruption it would cause. However, they believe that all people are worshippers by virtue of reason, due to the obligation to reflect on the signs of Allah, the Exalted, and the evidence of His oneness and knowledge. The obligation to reflect is by reason, not by hearing, so that worship before the mission necessitates that they do not think of him, blessings and peace be upon him, as neglecting it. Thus, their principle implies that he worshipped Allah, the Exalted, before the mission. Al-Zamakhshari maintained adherence to his principle of not following a previous prophet, but he neglected the derivation from his other principle regarding the obligation of worship by reason. The truth is that the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, worshipped before the revelation and would practice seclusion in the Cave of Hira. If the coming of his words "I worship" is because the past did not include this desired worship mentioned in the verse, then the command in it, and Allah knows best, is to be understood as a collection of specific acts of worship that were only known through revelation, not merely the oneness of Allah and His knowledge, for that has always been established for him, blessings and peace be upon him, before the mission, and Allah knows best. Or it could be that his coming is in the present tense to illustrate his worship in the mind of the listener and enable them to understand it, like His saying: "Did you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, so the earth becomes green?" The original is: "So it became," and it was altered for the mentioned meaning, which is a good aspect; reflect on it, and Allah knows best.]

In it, it means: I have never been known to worship an idol in the days of ignorance, so how can you expect me to do so in Islam?

"And you are not worshippers of what I worship" means: and you have not worshipped at any time while I am upon its worship.

If you say: Why was it not said: "I did not worship," as was said: "You did not worship?" I say: Because they were worshipping idols before the mission, while he was not worshipping Allah, the Exalted, at that time. If you say: Why was it mentioned with "what" instead of "who?" I say: Because the intended meaning is the description, as if he said: I do not worship falsehood, nor do you worship truth. And it was said that "what" is a source, meaning: I do not worship your worship, nor do you worship my worship.

"For you is your religion, and for me is my religion" means: for you is your polytheism, and for me is my monotheism. The meaning is: I am a prophet sent to you to call you to the truth and salvation. If you do not accept from me and do not follow me, then leave me alone and do not call me to polytheism.

From the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: "Whoever recites Surah Al-Kafirun, it is as if he has recited a quarter of the Qur'an, and the rebellious devils are distanced from him, and he is free from polytheism and is safe from the greatest terror." [Narrated by Al-Thalabi, Ibn Mardawayh, and Al-Wahidi with their chain to Abu Ibn Kab. I say: Its beginning was narrated by Al-Tirmidhi.

The hadith of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him.]}