Juz 1: Al-Fātiḥah to Al-Baqarah 141
Section 17 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Ibrahim's Legacy and Following His Path
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) stands as the common ancestor of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and his spiritual legacy forms a critical theme in the closing portion of the first juz. After describing how Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Ka'bah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala turns our attention to the true essence of Ibrahim's faith and how it should be embraced by all believers.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was not merely a prophet but was elevated to the status of khalil (intimate friend) of Allah. This special distinction came after he successfully passed numerous trials. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala states:
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
“And (remember) when his Lord put Ibrahim to a test with certain Words, and he fulfilled them, He said, "I am going to make you an Imam for the people." He said, "And from among my progeny?" He said, "My promise does not extend to the unjust." (2:124)”
This verse establishes a fundamental principle regarding faith leadership: it will never be granted to oppressors. True religious leadership in the hearts of people can only belong to the sincere believers who follow Ibrahim's model of complete submission to Allah.
Ibrahim's dedication to pure monotheism and rejection of all forms of polytheism serves as the perfect example for Muslims. The Quran emphasizes that Ibrahim's religion was neither Judaism nor Christianity as they existed at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but rather the pure, primordial faith centered on absolute monotheism:
مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
“Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was upright, a Muslim, and was not one of those who associate partners with Allah. (3:67)”
Ibrahim's concern for the faith of his descendants is particularly emphasized in these passages. Even on his deathbed, he was concerned about the religious commitment of his children:
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
“And Ibrahim enjoined the same upon his sons, and so did Ya'qub: "My sons, Allah has certainly chosen for you the Faith. So, let not death overtake you but as Muslims." (2:132)”
This verse highlights the paramount importance of passing on faith to our children and ensuring their spiritual well-being—a responsibility that extends until our last breath. Ibrahim and Ya'qub (peace be upon them) both advised their children to remain steadfast in submission to Allah and not to die except in a state of Islam.
The theme of following Ibrahim's path is further strengthened as the Quran presents the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the true inheritors of Ibrahim's legacy. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala challenges those who claim to follow previous prophets, saying that if they truly believed as the Companions believed, they would be rightly guided.
The final verses of this section remind us that we will not be questioned about the deeds of those who came before us, but rather about our own actions:
تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
“Those are a people who have passed away. For them is what they earned, and for you is what you earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do. (2:141)”
This powerful conclusion reminds us that ancestry, lineage, or association with righteous people will not benefit us on the Day of Judgment. Each person will be judged based on their own deeds and actions. It is not enough to claim Ibrahim as our spiritual forefather; we must emulate his complete submission to Allah, his rejection of all forms of polytheism, his unwavering monotheism, and his concern for passing the true faith to future generations.