Ibraheem (إِبْرَاهِيم)

The 14th chapter of the Qur'an, Surah Ibraheem (إِبْرَاهِيم), is named after the verse mentioning the Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. It is the 13th Parah/Juz of the Qur'an and comprises 52 verses, divided into 7 Ruku. Just like many other surahs, the name of the surah is merely an indication. Though this surah has been named after Prophet Ibraheem, it does not deal with his life. The subjects that have been discussed in Surah Ibraheem revolve around the monotheistic message of the Prophets, especially that of the Prophet Ibraheem (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and thankfulness to Allah in reference to the blessings showered by Him.

Commentators have claimed that the whole surah was revealed in the last phase of the Makkan period due to the content of its verses. It was the period of Quraysh's persecution at its worst, and much like the disbelievers of the former Prophets bent on expelling the Believers from the city. Other interpreters, however, note the exception of some verses about which difference exists, whether they are Makki or Madani. (Ma'arif Al Quran) The Shaan e Nazool evidence suggests that the surah was revealed before the Hijrah and in Makkah, hence a Makki Surah. 

This surah is one of the 29 other surahs, starting with the Huroof Al-Muqatta'at. The letters, Alif-Lam-Ra, are part of the Huruf al-Muqatta'at, the Disjointed Letters (a careful approach is advised by the esteemed scholars of the past). In Ma'arif Al Quran, the great scholar Mufti Muhammad Shafi writes, "We should firmly believe and have faith that whatever they mean or signify is true- but stay away from launching deeper investigations into their meanings." 

١٤ - إِبْرَاهِيم

14 - Ibraheem

الۗرٰ۝۰ۣ كِتٰبٌ اَنْزَلْنٰہُ اِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَي النُّوْرِ۝۰ۥۙ بِـاِذْنِ رَبِّھِمْ اِلٰي صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيْزِ الْحَمِيْدِ۝۱ۙ
Aliflamra kitabun anzalnahu ilayka litukhrija alnnasa mina alththulumati ila alnnoori biithni rabbihim ila sirati alAAazeezi alhameedi

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM RA. A Book We have sent down to you that you may lead men out of darkness into light, by their Lord's command, to the path of the mighty, the worthy of praise.

1

اللہِ الَّذِيْ لَہٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيْدِۨ۝۲ۙ
Allahi allathee lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi wawaylun lilkafireena min AAathabin shadeedin

English

Ahmed Ali

God, to whom belongs all there is in the heavens and the earth. Woe to the unbelievers for the terrible punishment (that awaits).

2

الَّذِيْنَ يَسْتَحِبُّوْنَ الْحَيٰوۃَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَي الْاٰخِرَۃِ وَيَصُدُّوْنَ عَنْ سَبِيْلِ اللہِ وَيَبْغُوْنَھَا عِوَجًا۝۰ۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ فِيْ ضَلٰلٍؚبَعِيْدٍ۝۳
Allatheena yastahibboona alhayata alddunya AAala alakhirati wayasuddoona AAan sabeeli Allahi wayabghoonaha AAiwajan olaika fee dalalin baAAeedin

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who hold the life of this world dearer than that of the next, who obstruct the path of God and seek obliquity in it, have wandered far into error.

3

وَمَاۗ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَّسُوْلٍ اِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِہٖ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَہُمْ۝۰ۭ فَيُضِلُّ اللہُ مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ وَيَہْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَاۗءُ۝۰ۭ وَہُوَالْعَزِيْزُ الْحَكِيْمُ۝۴
Wama arsalna min rasoolin illa bilisani qawmihi liyubayyina lahum fayudillu Allahu man yashao wayahdee man yashao wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

English

Ahmed Ali

We never sent a messenger who did not speak the tongue of his people, that he may explain to them distinctly. God leads whosoever He wills astray, and shows whoever He wills the way: He is all-mighty and all-wise.

4

وَلَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَا مُوْسٰى بِاٰيٰتِنَاۗ اَنْ اَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ الظُّلُمٰتِ اِلَى النُّوْرِ۝۰ۥۙ وَذَكِّرْہُمْ بِاَيّٰىمِ اؘ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُوْرٍ۝۵
Walaqad arsalna moosa biayatina an akhrij qawmaka mina alththulumati ila alnnoori wathakkirhum biayyami Allahi inna fee thalika laayatin likulli sabbarin shakoorin

English

Ahmed Ali

Remember when We sent Moses with Our signs (We said): "Bring your people out of darkness into light, and remind them of the visitations of God. Indeed there are signs in this for every steadfast, thankful soul"

5

وَاِذْ قَالَ مُوْسٰى لِقَوْمِہِ اذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَۃَ اللہِ عَلَيْكُمْ اِذْ اَنْجٰىكُمْ مِّنْ اٰلِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُوْمُوْنَكُمْ سُوْۗءَ الْعَذَابِ وَ يُذَبِّحُوْنَ اَبْنَاۗءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُوْنَ نِسَاۗءَكُمْ۝۰ۭ وَفِيْ ذٰلِكُمْ بَلَاۗءٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيْمٌ۝۶ۧ
Waith qala moosa liqawmihi othkuroo niAAmata Allahi AAalaykum ith anjakum min ali firAAawna yasoomoonakum sooa alAAathabi wayuthabbihoona abnaakum wayastahyoona nisaakum wafee thalikum balaon min rabbikum AAatheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

So Moses said to his people: "Remember the favours of God when He saved you from the people of Pharaoh who afflicted you with oppression, slaying your sons but keeping alive your women, which was a great trial from your Lord."

6

وَاِذْ تَاَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَىِٕنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَاَزِيْدَنَّكُمْ وَلَىِٕنْ كَفَرْتُمْ اِنَّ عَذَابِيْ لَشَدِيْدٌ۝۷
Waith taaththana rabbukum lain shakartum laazeedannakum walain kafartum inna AAathabee lashadeedun

English

Ahmed Ali

Remember, your Lord proclaimed: "I shall give you more if you are grateful; but if you are thankless then surely My punishment is very great."

7

وَقَالَ مُوْسٰۗى اِنْ تَكْفُرُوْۗا اَنْتُمْ وَمَنْ فِي الْاَرْضِ جَمِيْعًا۝۰ۙ فَاِنَّ اللہَ لَغَنِيٌّ حَمِيْدٌ۝۸
Waqala moosa in takfuroo antum waman fee alardi jameeAAan fainna Allaha laghaniyyun hameedun

English

Ahmed Ali

And Moses said: "What if you and all the people of the world deny, God is unconcerned and worthy of praise."

8

اَلَمْ يَاْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوْحٍ وَّعَادٍ وَّثَمُوْدَ۝۰ۥۭۛ وَالَّذِيْنَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِہِمْ۝۰ۭۛ لَا يَعْلَمُہُمْ اِلَّا اؙ۝۰ۭ جَاۗءَتْہُمْ رُسُلُہُمْ بِالْبَيِّنٰتِ فَرَدُّوْۗا اَيْدِيَہُمْ فِيْۗ اَفْوَاہِہِمْ وَقَالُوْۗا اِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَاۗ اُرْسِلْتُمْ بِہٖ وَاِنَّا لَفِيْ شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُوْنَنَاۗ اِلَيْہِ مُرِيْبٍ۝۹
Alam yatikum nabao allatheena min qablikum qawmi noohin waAAadin wathamooda waallatheena min baAAdihim la yaAAlamuhum illa Allahu jaathum rusuluhum bialbayyinati faraddoo aydiyahum fee afwahihim waqaloo inna kafarna bima orsiltum bihi wainna lafee shakkin mimma tadAAoonana ilayhi mureebun

English

Ahmed Ali

Has not the news of those before you, the people of Noah and 'Ad and Thamud, and those who came after them, come to you? None knows (about) them except God. Their apostles came to them with clear proofs, but they tried to silence them and said: "We do not believe in what you have been sent with, and we are in doubt of what you call us to, about which we are in disquiet.'

9

قَالَتْ رُسُلُہُمْ اَفِي اللہِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ يَدْعُوْكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ ذُنُوْبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ اِلٰۗى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى۝۰ۭ قَالُوْۗا اِنْ اَنْتُمْ اِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا۝۰ۭ تُرِيْدُوْنَ اَنْ تَصُدُّوْنَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اٰبَاۗؤُنَا فَاْتُوْنَا بِسُلْطٰنٍ مُّبِيْنٍ۝۱۰
Qalat rusuluhum afee Allahi shakkun fatiri alssamawati waalardi yadAAookum liyaghfira lakum min thunoobikum wayuakhkhirakum ila ajalin musamman qaloo in antum illa basharun mithluna tureedoona an tasuddoona AAamma kana yaAAbudu abaona fatoona bisultanin mubeenin

English

Ahmed Ali

Said their apostles: "Can there be doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you to forgive some of your sins, and give you respite for a time ordained." They said: "You are only men like us, and yet you wish to turn us away from what our fathers worshipped. Bring to us then a clear proof."

10

The Theme and Subject Matter of Surah Ibraheem (إِبْرَاهِيم)

Out of Darkness into Light

Surah Ibraheem starts by describing the Divine Revelations sent to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the same message that takes the men "out of darkness, into the light." This "guidance" is manifested in the stories of earlier Prophets, especially the account of Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ. Their descriptions emphasize the inevitable triumph of the Message of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, which was an essential message of hope for the downtrodden believers. The ayah in this surah primarily emphasizes Tauhid, the Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, substantiated with accounts and reminiscences. 

Contemplation has been the very creed of Prophet Ibraheem with his consequent monotheistic belief in the One God, Tauhid. This concise but comprehensive surah has as its highlight the supplication by Prophet Ibraheem, recorded in verses 14:35-41. He prays to Allah for the safety and prosperity of his posterity and for them to remain steadfast in their faith.

This application is the expression of his utmost anxiety for his offspring and unconditional reliance upon Allah. Keeping in view this very sublime and memorable Dua of Sayyidna Ibraheem (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), this surah was so named Ibraheem (إْبْرَاهِيم). Verses 14:40 to 41 of the supplications are specifically adapted for routine supplication and prayers by the Muslims. Moreover, the very opposites of Shukr—that is, Kufr—serve to remind believers to be thankful to Allah for whatever is given to them and to beware of the ultimate end of being ungrateful. "Remember, your Lord proclaimed: 'I shall give you more if you are grateful, but if you are thankless then surely My punishment is very great.'" (14:7). 

Accountability in the Hereafter is then reminded to the believers and the disbelievers how every individual will answer for their deeds on the Day of Judgment. It is to exhort the believers to live lives of righteousness and to warn the rejecters of the consequences of their schemes. Several verses refer to the end of previous nations which rejected the prophets and the message of Allah as a warning to the disbelievers of Makkah. Some interpretations hold that the central theme is majorly a warning, such as 14:52, and "censure" to the disbelievers of Makkah who reject the Message of Islam and scheme to harm and defeat the mission of the Holy Prophet. The Mufassireen point out that such warnings dominate reproach over the increasing schemes of the infidels, as the latter had already been made in the preceding revelations. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Ibraheem 

The Surah Ibraheem is replete with lessons and guidelines for the reader of its verses and their reflector. These fleeting accounts of a large number of stories of the Prophets are powerful reminders of "the transitory and ephemeral nature of life on earth" with "the eternal and unchanging nature of Life after Death." Such riveting stories act to revive the faith, resistance, and strength of the believer to repel every possible onslaught from the world surrounding him.

Commentaries of tafsirs highlight essential lessons in faith and reliance on Allah in Surah Ibraheem. For Ibn Kathir, Ibraheem's supplication was specifically taught to the Muslims who intend to be steadfast for themselves and their children and families. Al-Tabari wants the believers to take time and reflect on life, most importantly, their relation with Allah, while he accounts for every detail of the blessings and warnings from Allah in this surah. 

Do recite and reflect on Surah Ibraheem frequently, as it serves as a constant reminder of faith and reliance upon Allah. The wisdom of the verses provides hope in adversity and opens the heart for forbearance.