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Surah 14 · Meccan · 52 Verses

إبراهيم

SURAH IBRAHIM

Abraham

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1

الٓر ۚ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ

Alif, Lām, Rā.648 [This is] a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], that you might bring mankind out of darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord - to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy -

  1. [648] See footnote to 2:1. ↩

2

ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَوَيْلٌۭ لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ مِنْ عَذَابٍۢ شَدِيدٍ

Allāh, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And woe [i.e., destruction] to the disbelievers from a severe punishment -

3

ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَحِبُّونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا عَلَى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۭ بَعِيدٍۢ

The ones who prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter and avert [people] from the way of Allāh, seeking to make it [seem] deviant. Those are in extreme error.

4

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ۖ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allāh sends astray [thereby] whom He wills649 and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

  1. [649] i.e., those who refuse His guidance. ↩

5

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍۢ شَكُورٍۢ

And We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], "Bring out your people from darknesses into the light and remind them of the days650 of Allāh." Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

  1. [650] Days of blessings bestowed upon the Children of Israel. Also interpreted as days of punishment and destruction of the former nations. ↩

6

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ أَنجَىٰكُم مِّنْ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ يَسُومُونَكُمْ سُوٓءَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَيُذَبِّحُونَ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَيَسْتَحْيُونَ نِسَآءَكُمْ ۚ وَفِى ذَٰلِكُم بَلَآءٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَظِيمٌۭ

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.

7

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'"

8

وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰٓ إِن تَكْفُرُوٓا۟ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ

And Moses said, "If you should disbelieve, you and whoever is on the earth entirely - indeed, Allāh is Free of need and Praiseworthy."

9

أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَبَؤُا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٍۢ وَثَمُودَ ۛ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۛ لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۚ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ فَرَدُّوٓا۟ أَيْدِيَهُمْ فِىٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَآ أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِۦ وَإِنَّا لَفِى شَكٍّۢ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَنَآ إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍۢ

Has there not reached you the news of those before you - the people of Noah and ʿAad and Thamūd and those after them? No one knows them [i.e., their number] but Allāh. Their messengers brought them clear proofs, but they returned their hands to their mouths651 and said, "Indeed, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt."

  1. [651] Several explanations have been given as to the meaning. Based upon the conclusion of the verse, Ibn Katheer preferred that this was a gesture of denial and rejection. ↩

10

۞ قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّۭ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Their messengers said, "Can there be doubt about Allāh, Creator of the heavens and earth? He invites you that He may forgive you of your sins, and He delays you [i.e., your death] for a specified term." They said, "You are not but men like us who wish to avert us from what our fathers were worshipping. So bring us a clear authority [i.e., evidence]."

11

قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Their messengers said to them, "We are only men like you, but Allāh confers favor upon whom He wills of His servants. It has never been for us to bring you evidence except by permission of Allāh. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.

12

وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ

And why should we not rely upon Allāh while He has guided us to our [good] ways. And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allāh let those who would rely [indeed] rely."

13

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۖ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, "We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion." So their Lord inspired to them, "We will surely destroy the wrongdoers.

14

وَلَنُسْكِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِى وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ

And We will surely cause you to dwell in the land after them. That is for he who fears My position652 and fears My threat."

  1. [652] An alternative meaning is "the standing [for account] before Me." ↩

15

وَٱسْتَفْتَحُوا۟ وَخَابَ كُلُّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍۢ

And they requested decision [i.e., victory from Allāh], and disappointed, [therefore], was every obstinate tyrant.

16

مِّن وَرَآئِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ وَيُسْقَىٰ مِن مَّآءٍۢ صَدِيدٍۢ

Before him653 is Hell, and he will be given a drink of purulent water.654

  1. [653] Literally, "after him [in time]," meaning ahead of him. ↩
  2. [654] That which oozes from the skins of Hell's inhabitants. ↩

17

يَتَجَرَّعُهُۥ وَلَا يَكَادُ يُسِيغُهُۥ وَيَأْتِيهِ ٱلْمَوْتُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍۢ وَمَا هُوَ بِمَيِّتٍۢ ۖ وَمِن وَرَآئِهِۦ عَذَابٌ غَلِيظٌۭ

He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it. And death will come to him from everywhere, but he is not to die. And before him is a massive punishment.

18

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ أَعْمَٰلُهُمْ كَرَمَادٍ ٱشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ ٱلرِّيحُ فِى يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍۢ ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلضَّلَٰلُ ٱلْبَعِيدُ

The example of those who disbelieve in their Lord is [that] their deeds are like ashes which the wind blows forcefully on a stormy day; they are unable [to keep] from what they earned a [single] thing. That is what is extreme error.

19

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۢ

Have you not seen [i.e., considered] that Allāh created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He wills, He can do away with you and produce a new creation.

20

وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍۢ

And that is not difficult for Allāh.

21

وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًۭا فَقَالَ ٱلضُّعَفَٰٓؤُا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوٓا۟ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعًۭا فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا مِنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ ۚ قَالُوا۟ لَوْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَيْنَٰكُمْ ۖ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْنَآ أَجَزِعْنَآ أَمْ صَبَرْنَا مَا لَنَا مِن مَّحِيصٍۢ

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."

22

وَقَالَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ لَمَّا قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَعَدَكُمْ وَعْدَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَوَعَدتُّكُمْ فَأَخْلَفْتُكُمْ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لِىَ عَلَيْكُم مِّن سُلْطَٰنٍ إِلَّآ أَن دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَٱسْتَجَبْتُمْ لِى ۖ فَلَا تَلُومُونِى وَلُومُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُم ۖ مَّآ أَنَا۠ بِمُصْرِخِكُمْ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُصْرِخِىَّ ۖ إِنِّى كَفَرْتُ بِمَآ أَشْرَكْتُمُونِ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ

And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, "Indeed, Allāh had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allāh] before.655 Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment."

  1. [655] By your obedience to me instead of Him during life on earth. ↩

23

وَأُدْخِلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَٰمٌ

And those who believed and did righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding eternally therein by permission of their Lord; and their greeting therein will be, "Peace!"

24

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا كَلِمَةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ كَشَجَرَةٍۢ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌۭ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

Have you not considered how Allāh presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?

25

تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allāh presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded.

26

وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍۢ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ ٱجْتُثَّتْ مِن فَوْقِ ٱلْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِن قَرَارٍۢ

And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability.

27

يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱلْقَوْلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ

Allāh keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word,656 in worldly life and in the Hereafter.657 And Allāh sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allāh does what He wills.

  1. [656] The testimony that there is no deity except Allāh and that Muḥammad (ﷺ) is the messenger of Allāh. ↩
  2. [657] When questioned in their graves by the angels after death. ↩

28

۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ كُفْرًۭا وَأَحَلُّوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ ٱلْبَوَارِ

Have you not considered those who exchanged the favor of Allāh for disbelief658 and settled their people [in] the home of ruin?

  1. [658] They met Allāh's blessing with denial instead of gratitude. ↩

29

جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْقَرَارُ

[It is] Hell, which they will [enter to] burn, and wretched is the settlement.

30

وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًۭا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

And they have attributed to Allāh equals to mislead [people] from His way. Say, "Enjoy yourselves, for indeed, your destination is the Fire."

31

قُل لِّعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ يُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُنفِقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ يَوْمٌۭ لَّا بَيْعٌۭ فِيهِ وَلَا خِلَٰلٌ

[O Muḥammad], tell My servants who have believed to establish prayer and spend from what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, before a Day comes in which there will be no exchange [i.e., ransom], nor any friendships.

32

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًۭا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَٰرَ

It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you659 the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers.

  1. [659] i.e., made serviceable to you. ↩

33

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ

And He subjected for you the sun and the moon, continuous [in orbit], and subjected for you the night and the day.

34

وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَظَلُومٌۭ كَفَّارٌۭ

And He gave you from all you asked of Him.660 And if you should count the favor [i.e., blessings] of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.661

  1. [660] Something of what you asked and all of what you continually require, according to His wisdom. ↩
  2. [661] i.e., disbelieving and denying of Allāh's favor. ↩

35

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْ هَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدَ ءَامِنًۭا وَٱجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ ٱلْأَصْنَامَ

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this city [i.e., Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

36

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّى ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - then he is of me;662 and whoever disobeys me - indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful.

  1. [662] i.e., of my religion. ↩

37

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.

38

رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِى وَمَا نُعْلِنُ ۗ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مِن شَىْءٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ

Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allāh on the earth or in the heaven.

39

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى وَهَبَ لِى عَلَى ٱلْكِبَرِ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَسَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

Praise to Allāh, who has granted to me in old age Ishmael and Isaac. Indeed, my Lord is the Hearer of supplication.

40

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

41

رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ

Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established."

42

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍۢ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ

And never think that Allāh is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them [i.e., their account] for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].

43

مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ ۖ وَأَفْـِٔدَتُهُمْ هَوَآءٌۭ

Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them,663 and their hearts are void.

  1. [663] This is their state at the time of resurrection from the graves. Their heads are upraised in fixed stares of terror, unable even to glance back. ↩

44

وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍۢ

And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?664

  1. [664] Of the blessings which Allāh had bestowed upon you during life on earth. ↩

45

وَسَكَنتُمْ فِى مَسَٰكِنِ 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."

46

وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ

And they had planned their plan, but with Allāh is [recorded] their plan, even if their plan had been [sufficient] to do away with the mountains.665

  1. [665] An alternative meaning is "...and their plan was not [sufficient] to do away with the mountains," i.e., it had no effect against Allāh's will. ↩

47

فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِۦ رُسُلَهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌۭ ذُو ٱنتِقَامٍۢ

So never think that Allāh will fail in His promise to His messengers. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution.666

  1. [666] Refer to footnote for 3:5. ↩

48

يَوْمَ تُبَدَّلُ ٱلْأَرْضُ غَيْرَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتُ ۖ وَبَرَزُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلْوَٰحِدِ ٱلْقَهَّارِ

[It will be] on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well], and they [i.e., all creatures] will come out before Allāh, the One, the Prevailing,

49

وَتَرَى ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ مُّقَرَّنِينَ فِى ٱلْأَصْفَادِ

And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in irons,

50

سَرَابِيلُهُم مِّن قَطِرَانٍۢ وَتَغْشَىٰ وُجُوهَهُمُ ٱلنَّارُ

Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by the Fire

51

لِيَجْزِىَ ٱللَّهُ كُلَّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

So that Allāh will recompense every soul for what it earned. Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.

52

هَٰذَا بَلَٰغٌۭ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَلِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌۭ وَٰحِدٌۭ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

This [Qur’ān] is notification for the people that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded.

About This Surah

Surah Ibrahim describes revelation as leading people from darkness into light. It recalls Moses, teaches gratitude without reducing blessing to money, records Abraham’s prayers for the sanctuary and future generations, compares a good word to a rooted fruitful tree, and warns that delayed justice is not absent justice. The chapter joins clear communication, prophetic trust, family prayer, ethical speech, and final accountability.

Ibrahim opens with a Book that brings people from darkness into light by God’s permission. Messengers speak in the language of their people so the message can be made clear. This affirms intelligible communication and responsibility; it does not make every translation identical with revelation or declare one human language inherently sacred above all others.

Moses reminds his people of deliverance and of the principle that gratitude is met with increase while ingratitude faces consequence. The verse should not be marketed as a formula guaranteeing financial growth to every grateful person. Blessing in the chapter includes guidance, rescue, worship, moral steadiness, and provision, while God remains independent of human gratitude.

Earlier messengers answer rejection with trust. Their communities demand conformity or expulsion, and final judgment exposes leaders and followers who shifted blame. Satan’s final speech rejects responsibility for people’s choices: he invited, and they responded. False authorities cannot bear the moral agency their followers attempted to surrender.

The good word is compared to a firmly rooted tree that gives fruit, while a corrupt word lacks stability. Speech is evaluated by truth, rootedness, and beneficial consequence rather than virality or rhetorical force.

Abraham prays for the sanctuary’s security, protection from idolatry, hearts inclined toward his family, provision, prayer among descendants, and forgiveness. These prayers are relational and historical. They do not guarantee righteousness to every descendant, establish ethnic superiority, or eliminate individual accountability.

The chapter acknowledges that wrongdoers may appear to continue without consequence. Delay is not divine inattention or approval. The final judgment scenes describe terror, exposure, transformed creation, and universal accountability. Revelation closes as a public message so people may be warned, recognize the one God, and remember.

Core Themes

  • Revelation communicating clearly in human language
  • Gratitude broader than transactional prosperity
  • Prophetic trust under threat and expulsion
  • Speech judged by rooted truth and beneficial fruit
  • Abrahamic prayer joined to individual responsibility
  • Delayed justice distinguished from absent judgment

Structure

Verses 1–8: revelation, language, Moses, and gratitude — 1-8

The Book leads from darkness to light, messengers communicate in their people’s language, Moses recalls deliverance, and gratitude is placed within divine independence and accountability.

Verses 9–21: rejected messengers and final dispute — 9-21

Earlier peoples resist clear calls, threaten expulsion, and demand conformity. Messengers trust God, while final leaders and followers discover that blame cannot transfer responsibility.

Verses 22–27: Satan’s disavowal and the rooted word — 22-27

Satan refuses responsibility for willing followers, and true speech is compared to a stable fruitful tree. Corrupt speech lacks a secure foundation.

Verses 28–41: ingratitude and Abraham’s prayers — 28-41

People who exchange blessing for denial are contrasted with Abraham’s detailed prayers for sanctuary, worship, descendants, provision, gratitude, and forgiveness.

Verses 42–52: delayed justice and final warning — 42-52

Wrongdoing is not ignored because judgment is delayed. The ending presents public terror, exposure, transformed creation, recompense, and revelation as warning and reminder.

Reading Guide

Read language as clarity and responsibility

Verse 4 explains why messengers address their people intelligibly. Use it to value clear communication without confusing translation with the Arabic revelation or ranking ethnic languages.

Keep gratitude free from prosperity marketing

Read verses 7–8 together. Increase belongs to God’s wisdom, while God needs nothing from creation. Do not promise a fixed financial return for grateful speech or recitation.

Compare speech by roots and fruit

The tree parable asks whether a word is grounded and beneficial. Popularity, aggression, and repetition do not make speech true or morally fruitful.

Preserve responsibility within family prayer

Abraham prays deeply for descendants, but prayer does not erase their choices. Avoid turning the passage into hereditary entitlement or ethnic superiority.

Key Passages

Darkness, light, and intelligible language — 1-5

Revelation guides by God’s permission, and messengers speak in their people’s language for clarity. Communication creates responsibility without making every human rendering the revealed Arabic text. Its location in the chapter connects the preceding argument with the response that follows, so the surrounding verses should remain visible.

Gratitude without divine need — 7-8

Gratitude is met with increase and ingratitude with warning, yet God remains independent and praiseworthy. The principle cannot be reduced to a guaranteed cash-return formula. The surrounding verses define its immediate purpose and the limits that prevent a careless, polemical, or overbroad modern application.

Prophetic trust after receiving a path — 12

Messengers ask why they should not trust God after being guided, then endure harm. Trust follows guidance and supports perseverance without denying the reality of injury. Read this language within the chapter’s full movement before drawing broader theological, legal, political, or devotional conclusions from it.

Satan disowns responsibility for followers — 22

Satan admits he possessed no coercive authority and only invited people who responded. Followers cannot transfer their moral agency to the one who tempted them. Its force depends on the contrast and progression established around it, not on treating selected lines as a detached slogan.

The rooted word and unstable falsehood — 24-27

A good word is stable, elevated, and fruitful by God’s permission; a corrupt word lacks foundation. Truth is evaluated through source, endurance, and benefit. The passage remains part of the surah’s wider moral sequence, which supplies the proper direction for reflection, restraint, and response.

Abraham’s prayers for sanctuary and descendants — 35-41

Security, protection from idolatry, human affection, provision, prayer, gratitude, and forgiveness form a multi-generational petition. Prayer does not cancel each person’s responsibility. This context protects the passage from becoming an isolated shortcut and preserves the chapter’s balance of warning, duty, and mercy.

Delayed justice and public accountability — 42-52

Apparent delay does not mean inattention. Wrongdoing, fear, plotting, transformed creation, recompense, and public warning culminate in recognition of divine oneness. Its role becomes clearer when adjacent verses remain in view and the chapter’s movement is allowed to frame the reader’s conclusions.

Recitation Note

No exclusive time, fixed count, prosperity formula, family guarantee, or promised worldly outcome is required for reciting Surah Ibrahim. Gratitude and Abrahamic prayer remain Quranic guidance without being converted into transactional devotional marketing.

Interpretation Limits

  • Verse 14:7 does not guarantee financial increase, career success, or a specified material return for gratitude or recitation.
  • Abraham’s prayers do not establish ethnic superiority, hereditary salvation, or automatic righteousness for every descendant.
  • The language-of-the-people verse does not make translations identical with revelation or one ethnicity inherently superior.
  • Judgment imagery must not be used for date-setting, private threats, or declaring named individuals’ final fate.
  • Delayed justice should not be interpreted as approval of wrongdoing or as a reason to abandon lawful efforts for protection and accountability.

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Sources