قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَءَٰٓؤُا۟ مِنكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةُ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءُ أَبَدًا حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا قَوْلَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَمَآ أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 4
Translations
There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allāh. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allāh alone" - except for the saying of Abraham to his father, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allāh. Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination.
Transliteration
Qad kanat lakum uswatun hasanah fee ibraheema wallatheena ma'ahu idh qaloo liqawmihim inna bura'au minkum wa mimma ta'budoona min dooni allahi kafarna bikum wa bada baynana wa baynakumu al-'adawatu wa albaghda'u abadan hatta tu'minoona billahi wahdahu illa qawla ibraheema li-abih la-asthaghfiranna laka wa ma amliku laka mina allahi min shay'in rabbana alayika tawakkalna wa ilayka anabna wa ilayka almaseer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Prophet Ibrahim and his companions as an exemplary model of unwavering faith and clear disassociation from idolatry and those who practice it. The believers are commanded to completely reject polytheism and those who promote it, maintaining enmity and hatred toward shirk eternally until people embrace monotheism—with the exception being Ibrahim's compassionate supplication for his father's guidance, demonstrating that while principles are uncompromising, personal mercy toward family remains permissible. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this ayah establishes the principle of al-wala' wa al-bara' (loyalty to Allah and His believers, disassociation from disbelief), while al-Tabari notes that Ibrahim's prayer for his father was made before it became clear that his father would remain in kufr, after which Ibrahim disassociated from him (19:46).
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah during a period when Muslim emigrants were being tested regarding their relationships with pagan relatives and former allies in Mecca. The surah addresses the examination of women who migrated to Madinah and deals with the boundaries of relationships between believers and disbelievers. This ayah provides guidance on maintaining firm Islamic principles while dealing with family members who reject faith.
Related Hadiths
The concept of al-wala' wa al-bara' is reinforced in a hadith in Jami' at-Tirmidhi where the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that whoever loves for Allah's sake and hates for Allah's sake has perfected their faith. Additionally, the Quran (9:114) addresses Ibrahim's intercession for his father, clarifying that he stopped praying for him once it became evident he was an enemy of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must maintain firm boundaries regarding their Islamic faith and principles, refusing to compromise on monotheism even with family members, while simultaneously demonstrating compassion and making sincere supplications for their guidance. This ayah teaches that principled conviction and human kindness are not mutually exclusive, but clarity about one's faith boundaries takes precedence in matters of fundamental belief.