Surah Al-Imran (3:79)

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ اَنۡ يُّؤۡتِيَهُ اللّٰهُ الۡكِتٰبَ وَالۡحُكۡمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُوۡلَ لِلنَّاسِ كُوۡنُوۡا عِبَادًا لِّىۡ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَلٰـكِنۡ كُوۡنُوۡا رَبَّانِيّٖنَ بِمَا كُنۡتُمۡ تُعَلِّمُوۡنَ الۡكِتٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنۡتُمۡ تَدۡرُسُوۡنَۙ‏ ۝

Ma kana libasharin anyu/tiyahu Allahu alkitaba walhukmawannubuwwata thumma yaqoola linnasikoonoo AAibadan lee min dooni Allahi walakinkoonoo rabbaniyyeena bima kuntum tuAAallimoonaalkitaba wabima kuntum tadrusoon

It is not for a human prophet that Allāh should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allāh," but instead, he would say, "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied."

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The True Authority: A teacher of the book commands worship of the Creator, not himself.

The Insight

No prophet or wise man who is taught the Scripture would command people to worship himself, but rather to worship God alone. Check the source of devotion. Be wary of any religious leader or organization that demands personal worship or absolute, unquestioning devotion to themselves, as this is the definitive sign of a false guide.