رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 36
Translations
My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - then he is of me; and whoever disobeys me - indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Rabbi innahunna adlalna katheeran mina an-naasi faman tabi'ani fa-innahoo minni wa man 'asani fa-innaka ghafoorun raheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) makes a supplication to Allah, lamenting that idols have led many people astray, and he seeks Allah's mercy for those who disobey him while affirming that those who follow him are truly his followers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah reflects Ibrahim's concern for humanity's guidance and his trust in Allah's ultimate mercy and wisdom in judgment, establishing the principle that the responsibility of the messenger is to convey the message, while the outcome rests with Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Ibrahim, which was revealed in Mecca during a period of intense opposition to Prophet Muhammad and the message of Tawheed (monotheism). It forms part of Ibrahim's prayer and reflects the broader surah's theme of the struggle between monotheism and idolatry, illustrating how even the greatest prophets faced rejection and sought Allah's guidance for their people.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3370 records that Prophet Muhammad said, 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,' reflecting the compassionate concern for guidance shown by Ibrahim in this supplication. Additionally, the principle of a messenger's limited responsibility is affirmed in Surah 42:48: 'And if they turn away, We have not sent you as a guardian over them.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that while we have a duty to call others to the truth with wisdom and compassion, the ultimate guidance belongs to Allah alone, freeing us from the burden of forcing belief on others and strengthening our trust in Allah's infinite mercy and justice.
Related Ayahs
وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَـٰكِنِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ كَيْفَ فَعَلْنَا بِهِمْ وَضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ
And you lived among the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, and it had become clear to you how We dealt with them. And We presented for you [many] examples."
وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَـٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَـٰكُمْ ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍ
And they will come out [for judgement] before Allāh all together, and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, "Indeed, we were your followers, so can you avail us anything against the punishment of Allāh?" They will say, "If Allāh had guided us, we would have guided you. It is all the same for us whether we show intolerance or are patient: there is for us no place of escape."
مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌ
Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌ
And [recall, O Children of Israel], when Moses said to his people, "Remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh, who were afflicting you with the worst torment and were slaughtering your [newborn] sons and keeping your females alive. And in that was a great trial from your Lord.