۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَـٰتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 124
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with words [i.e., commands] and he fulfilled them. [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allāh] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."
Transliteration
Wa-idhi ibtala Ibrahim rabbuhu bi-kalimat fa-atammahunna qala inni ja'iluka li-n-nasi imama qala wa-min dhurriyyati qala la yanalu 'ahdi adh-dhalimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah tested Prophet Ibrahim with divine commandments (kalimat), which he fulfilled completely, earning him the position of Imam (leader) for all mankind. When Ibrahim requested that this honor extend to his descendants, Allah clarified that His covenant of leadership would not extend to those who commit dhulm (oppression/injustice), establishing that spiritual leadership is contingent upon righteousness rather than lineage alone. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that Ibrahim's trials tested his obedience in various contexts—abandoning idolatry, leaving his homeland, sacrificing his son—demonstrating that true Imamah requires moral and spiritual integrity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan section of Al-Baqarah and contextualizes Ibrahim's station in Islamic theology, particularly relevant as the Qur'an addresses the Jewish and Christian communities regarding their relationship to the Abrahamic legacy. It establishes that spiritual authority in Islam is earned through righteousness, not inherited privilege, which was particularly significant in addressing claims of exclusive covenant based on genealogy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), relating to the concept of Imamah through knowledge and righteousness. Additionally, Surah Al-Imran 3:34 mentions Ibrahim among the chosen line, emphasizing that selection is based on merit and obedience rather than mere descent.
Themes
Key Lesson
True leadership and honor from Allah are earned through steadfast obedience, moral integrity, and justice—not through lineage or inherited status. This teaches believers that spiritual elevation requires continuous adherence to divine principles and that none can claim divine favor solely through family connection; each individual must cultivate their own righteousness.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَـٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ ٱلْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ ٱلتَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allāh, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it.
صِبْغَةَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبْغَةً ۖ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ
[And say, "Ours is] the religion of Allāh. And who is better than Allāh in [ordaining] religion? And we are worshippers of Him."