The Meaning of the Saying of Allah, the Exalted: "Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor am I a worshipper of what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship."
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The Shaykh :[Al-Kafirun 109:3] Whom does the Messenger worship? Allah. That is, you do not worship my object of worship. Now, if a person says, "Do they not worship idols and worship Allah?" we say, yes, some of them worship Allah and worship idols, but their worship of Allah does not benefit them because of the shirk (associating partners with Allah). Therefore, He negated it. He said: [Al-Kafirun 109:3-5] Is there not a repetition here? [Al-Kafirun 109:2-4] It means "I do not worship what you worship." [Al-Kafirun 109:3] It is the same wording that came before. So the scholars differed on how this repetition is to be understood. Some answered that this is a matter of emphasis, and that important matters are emphasized by repetition, such as the saying of Allah, the Exalted: [An-Naba 78:4-5] [At-Takathur 102:6-7] Thus, it is appropriate, by the rules of the Arabic language, to emphasize an important matter by repetition. And some of the scholars said: "There is no repetition in the verse, and His saying: [Al-Kafirun 109:2] is a negation of the objects of worship, while [Al-Kafirun 109:3-4] is a negation of the worship in terms of its manner." As if He is saying: I do not worship the idols that you worship, and I do not worship in a manner resembling your worship, nor do I imitate it, nor do I resemble you in it. So the first is in consideration of what? The object of worship, and the second is in consideration of the worship, meaning my worship is not like your worship, and my object of worship is not your object of worship. This is good because this view is free from the claim of what? Repetition. It is free from the claim of repetition.
And some of the scholars said, "Rather, the verse differs: the first is by action,[Al-Kafirun 109:2-3] and the second is for readiness and acceptance. This is why it came in a nominal sentence: [Al-Kafirun 109:3-4] And to this leans the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), that the first two verses are a negation of the action, and the last two verses are a negation of acceptance and readiness. That is, I do not do it, and I cannot do it, and I do not accept it, in any case. So this is a great station, and it is obligatory for the person to disavow the objects of worship of the polytheists, and to disavow the worship of the polytheists, and to be sincere to Allah in his worship, following His Messenger.
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد(3) Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. (4) Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. (5) Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship.
ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد ولا أنا عابد ما عبدتم . ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد(2) I do not worship what you worship. (3) Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. (4) Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.
لا أعبد ما تعبدون ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد . ولا أنا عابد ما عبدتمNor are you worshippers of what I worship.
ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد(4) No! They are going to know. (5) Then, no! They are going to know.
كلا سيعلمون ثم كلا سيعلمون(6) You will surely see the Hellfire. (7) Then you will surely see it with the eye of certainty.
لترون الجحيم ثم لترونها عين اليقينI do not worship what you worship.
لا أعبد ما تعبدون(3) Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. (4) Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship.
ولا أنتم عابدون ما أعبد . ولا أنا عابد ما عبدتمAnd some of the scholars said, "Rather, the verse differs: the first is by action,