وَجَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ وَإِقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ لَنَا عَـٰبِدِينَ 73
Translations
And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakāh; and they were worshippers of Us.
Transliteration
Wa ja'alnāhum a'immatan yahdūna bi-amrinā wa awḥaynā ilayhim fi'l-khayāti wa iqāmat-aṣ-ṣalāti wa itā'a-az-zakāti wa kānū lanā 'ābidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (mentioned in the preceding verses), whom Allah made into leaders (imāms) who guided others by His command. Allah inspired them to perform righteous deeds, establish prayer, and give zakat, while they remained devoted servants to Him. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the prophets exemplified both vertical devotion to Allah and horizontal service to humanity through guidance and charitable actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-Anbiyā, which discusses the lives and virtues of various prophets. The context specifically honors the lineage of prophets from Abraham through Jacob, establishing them as ideal leaders whose characteristics—piety, guidance, charity, and worship—should serve as models for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), reflecting the prophets' balance between personal devotion and family/community guidance mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True leadership in Islam is rooted in personal piety, devotion to Allah, and commitment to helping others through prayer, guidance, and charitable action. Modern Muslims should seek to embody these qualities of the prophets—being guides in their communities while maintaining sincere worship and generosity toward those in need.
Related Ayahs
بَلْ قَالُوٓا۟ أَضْغَـٰثُ أَحْلَـٰمٍۭ بَلِ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ بَلْ هُوَ شَاعِرٌ فَلْيَأْتِنَا بِـَٔايَةٍ كَمَآ أُرْسِلَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ
But they say, "[The revelation is but] a mixture of false dreams; rather, he has invented it; rather, he is a poet. So let him bring us a sign just as the previous [messengers] were sent [with miracles]."
لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.
قَـٰلَ رَبِّ ٱحْكُم بِٱلْحَقِّ ۗ وَرَبُّنَا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
[The Prophet (ﷺ)] has said, "My Lord, judge [between us] in truth. And our Lord is the Most Merciful, the one whose help is sought against that which you describe."
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ
And We sent not before you any messenger except We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."