لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ ۖ فَلَا يُنَٰزِعُنَّكَ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۚ وَٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Important Words:
منسک (ways of worship) means, rites of sacrifice; religious rites and ceremonies of the Pilgrimage; animals of sacrifice; ways of worship; acts of devotion. See also 6:163 & 22:35.
Commentary:
Taking منسک in the sense of animals of sacrifice or the rites of sacrifice the verse signifies (a) that the ritual of sacrifice in one form or another is common to all religions; and (b) that it was the sacrifice of animals that was at first enjoined by God and not human sacrifice which was invented afterwards.
Taking the word منسک in the sense of 'ways of worship,' the verse means that Divine worship is found in one form or another among all nations and peoples. This fact leads to another great truth which Islam, among all religions, was the first to proclaim, viz. that Divine Messengers appeared at different times among all nations and peoples to teach them the different forms and ways of worship.
The words فی الامر (in the matter) mean, 'in the matter of Islam' or 'in the matter of the Quran.' In this sense of the words the verse purports to say that when it has been made clear that Prophets were raised among all peoples, the disbelievers have no right or justification to say that the Holy Prophet has brought a novel teaching. He has done no new thing and has introduced no innovation. See 46:10.
Divine worship is found in one form or another among all nations and peoples. This fact leads to the great truth which Islam, among all religions, was the first to proclaim that Divine Messengers appeared among all peoples to teach them the different forms and ways of worship.