وَٱذْكُرْ عِبَـٰدَنَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَيْدِى وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ 45
Translations
And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - those of strength and [religious] vision.
Transliteration
Wa-dhkur 'ibadana Ibrahim wa-Ishaq wa-Ya'qub uli al-aidi wa-al-absaar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad to remember and mention three noble servants of Allah—Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub—describing them as those possessing strength (al-aidi) in their deeds, knowledge, and spiritual power, and insight (al-absaar) in their understanding of divine truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these descriptors highlight their exceptional abilities in both physical righteousness and spiritual comprehension, making them exemplars of complete devotion to Allah and worthy of emulation for the Muslim community.
Revelation Context
Surah Sad is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced opposition. This ayah appears within a passage praising the steadfastness and righteousness of the prophets, serving to encourage the Prophet Muhammad and the believers during times of hardship by recalling the noble examples of his predecessors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of mankind are of three generations: my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the Qur'an states elsewhere (6:84) that Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub were among those given guidance by Allah, confirming their elevated status.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true strength (aidi) lies not merely in physical power but in spiritual fortitude and righteous action, while genuine insight (bassar) comes from clear understanding of divine truth. We should strive to embody the comprehensive righteousness of these great prophets by combining both spiritual knowledge and virtuous deeds in our daily lives.