وَبَـٰرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَىٰٓ إِسْحَـٰقَ ۚ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِمَا مُحْسِنٌ وَظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِۦ مُبِينٌ 113
Translations
And We blessed him and Isaac. But among their descendants is the doer of good and the clearly unjust to himself [i.e., sinner].
Transliteration
Wa-bāraknā 'alayhi wa-'alā Ishāqa, wa-min dhurriyyatihimā muhsinun wa-zālimun li-nafsihi mubīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah blessed both Ibrahim and his son Ishaq, and among their descendants there would be those who are righteous (muhsinun) and those who are clear wrongdoers (zālimun li-anfusihim). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this indicates that despite the prophetic lineage and divine blessing, free will remains with each individual—righteousness is not inherited but must be chosen. The mention of both categories emphasizes the reality that prophethood and blessing do not guarantee righteousness in all descendants, a theme reinforced throughout Quranic narratives.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader Meccan surah that discusses the ranks of the righteous and recounts stories of prophets and messengers. The context specifically addresses Allah's blessings upon Ibrahim and Ishaq, part of a larger passage (37:112-115) narrating the glad tidings of Ishaq's birth and establishing the prophetic legacy. The surah's overall theme discusses those who obey versus those who disobey, contextualizing this verse within that framework.
Related Hadiths
The principle reflected here relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Every newborn is born upon fitrah (natural disposition), but his parents make him a Jew, Christian, or Magian.' This emphasizes individual responsibility regardless of family lineage. Also relevant is the Quranic principle stated in 2:34 regarding Iblis's descendants, showing that even among those of noble birth, misguidance can occur.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual heritage and family blessing do not automatically guarantee righteousness; each person must actively choose to do good. It serves as a reminder for modern believers that regardless of one's family background or religious upbringing, personal moral accountability and conscious effort toward righteousness are essential.