أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦٓ أَنْ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحْىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْتِى بِٱلشَّمْسِ مِنَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 258
Translations
Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allāh had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allāh brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.
Transliteration
Alam tara ilal-ladhi hajja Ibrahim fi rabbihi an atahu-allahu al-mulk idh qala Ibrahim rabbi-al-ladhi yuhyi wa yumit. Qala ana uhyi wa umit. Qala Ibrahim fa-inna Allah ya'ti bi-al-shams mina al-mashriq fa'ti biha mina al-maghrib fabuhita al-ladhi kafar wa-allahu la yahdil-qawma al-zalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the debate between the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and a tyrant king (identified by classical scholars as Namrud/Nimrod) who possessed great worldly power. When the king arrogantly claimed divinity by boasting "I give life and cause death," Ibrahim refuted him with a rational argument: if Allah brings the sun from the east, let this king bring it from the west—demonstrating the king's powerlessness and the futility of his claims. Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note that Ibrahim's response exposed the king's ignorance and irrationality, leaving him utterly confounded (bahita), while the Qur'an concludes that Allah does not guide the oppressive people.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Al-Baqarah and is part of a series of verses discussing Allah's power and the futility of associating partners with Him. The broader context addresses the theme of monotheism and refutation of polytheism. While not tied to a specific historical event in Medina, it illustrates the eternal principle of how the faithful should respond to those who deny Allah's oneness, drawing from the historical example of Ibrahim's confrontation with tyranny.
Related Hadiths
The story is referenced in various hadith collections discussing Ibrahim's steadfastness. Sunan Ibn Majah and Tafsir sources record that Ibrahim was cast into fire by Namrud for his rejection of idolatry, and Allah saved him—contextualizing his courage in debate as part of his greater trials. The Qur'an itself in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:68-69) describes this event directly.
Themes
Key Lesson
When facing those who deny Allah's power or spread falsehood, the believer should respond with wisdom and clear rational arguments rather than aggression, trusting that truth will ultimately triumph. This ayah teaches us that no amount of worldly power or arrogance can stand against the reality of Allah's absolute dominion, and that spiritual conviction grounded in reason is the strongest weapon against tyranny.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عُرْضَةً لِّأَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَتُصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And do not make [your oath by] Allāh an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allāh and making peace among people. And Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
And when My servants ask you, [O Muḥammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islām to Allāh while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh - those expect the mercy of Allāh. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.