يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدْ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعْنِىٓ أَهْدِكَ صِرَٰطًا سَوِيًّا 43
Translations
O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.
Transliteration
Ya abati inni qad jaani mina al-ilmi ma lam yatika fattabi'ni ahdika siratan sawiyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this verse, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) addresses his father with respect and wisdom, informing him that he has received knowledge that his father did not possess, and inviting him to follow him toward the straight path. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that Ibrahim's approach combines gentleness (using 'ya abati'—O my father) with firmness in conveying divine truth, demonstrating the proper etiquette for calling others to Allah even when correcting those in authority over us. The 'knowledge' (ilm) refers to the divine revelation and monotheistic truth that Ibrahim received, contrasting with his father's ignorance of tawheed (oneness of God).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the narrative of Ibrahim's call to his idolatrous father (mentioned in verses 19:41-47). While Surah Maryam is Meccan, this passage reflects the struggle early Muslims faced when their families rejected their message, making it contextually relevant to the Meccan period when Prophet Muhammad and his followers were similarly rejected by their own kin.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), which illustrates the Islamic balance between respecting parents and conveying divine truth—a principle exemplified by Ibrahim in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that conveying religious truth requires combining respectful language and gentleness with conviction in what we know to be right, and that pursuing knowledge of Allah's deen is essential for guiding ourselves and others toward righteousness.