Overall meaning : Allah directs His Prophet, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to tell these idolaters to come to him to inform them of what Allah has truly made unlawful for them and what He has commanded them to do: He commands them not to worship anyone or anything besides Him; to show kindness to their parents; not to kill their children because of poverty, for it is He who provides sustenance for them as well as for their children; not to commit shameful, abominable acts, whether openly or in secret, as well as anything that might lead to them; not to kill any person whose life has forbidden to be taken except in the course of justice and through due process of law. This has He enjoined upon them so that they may comprehend His commands and follow them.
He further commands them to stay well away from the property of the orphans under their custody except in the best way (such as to improve and increase it) and to look after it for them until they come of age and find them capable of sound judgement and that they are able to manage their affairs well, then restore it to them. He commands that they should give just weight and full measure, stating that they will incur no sin if some mistake in weight or measure occurs due to some oversight on their part after trying their best, which is a genuine mistake, for Allah never charges a person with more than he can bear. He further commands them to speak for justice (in making statements and judgements, bearing witness and interceding for others), even if a near relative is concerned; and to fulfil His commandments by doing what He commands and avoiding what He forbids regarding both His rights and people’s rights. This has He enjoined upon them so that they may bear His commandments in mind, obey them and refrain from wrongdoing.
The Almighty then states that what He has commanded them to do is His religion and right path leading to Him and the abode of eternal bliss He has prepared for the righteous. He orders them to follow it and not to follow other paths, stating that such paths will surely scatter them about from His right path and lead them away from it. Thus has He enjoined them so that they may remain conscious of Him and do what He commands and avoid what He forbids.