وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِنَا وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ عَلِيًّا 50
Translations
And We gave them of Our mercy, and We made for them a mention [i.e., reputation] of high honor.
Transliteration
Wa wahabna lahum min rahmatina wa ja'alna lahum lisana sidqin aliyya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's bestowal of mercy and a 'truthful tongue of high repute' upon Ibrahim (Abraham) and his progeny. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'lisan sidq' (truthful tongue) as referring to honorable mention, praise, and prophetic legacy—meaning that Allah granted them excellent reputation and successive generations of righteous prophets. The 'aliyy' (exalted/high) emphasizes the elevation of their status and the universality of their honor across times and peoples.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Maryam's discussion of noble prophets and messengers, specifically in the passage honoring Ibrahim and his descendants. The surah emphasizes divine mercy extended to the righteous, and this verse contextualizes Ibrahim's special favor—not only receiving prophethood himself but establishing a lineage of prophets including Ishaq, Ya'qub, Musa, and 'Isa (peace be upon them all).
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding Ibrahim: 'Ibrahim was not a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true believer (Hanif) and Muslim' (Sahih Bukhari 3445). Additionally, the concept of 'truthful tongue' relates to the hadith: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sunan Ibn Majah), reflecting the importance of truthfulness and good repute.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true honor comes not from worldly wealth or power, but from Allah's mercy, truthfulness, and righteous legacy that transcends time. Modern believers should aspire to establish a legacy of integrity and faith, understanding that a good name and truthful character are divine gifts more valuable than material possessions.