(O my dear son! Establish worship) perform the prescribed prayer (and enjoin kindness) through the profession of Allah's divine Oneness and beneficence (and forbid iniquity) idolatry and foul words and deeds, (and persevere whatever may befall thee) throughout. (Lo! That) i. e. enjoining good and forbidding evil; it is also said that this refers to steadfastness (is of the steadfast heart of things) of the best and most resolute of things.