The Bee — Verse 121

He selected him, as Allah says : وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَـلِمِينَ (And before, We indeed gave Ibrahim his integrity, and We were indeed most knowledgeable about him)(21:51). Then Allah says: وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (and guided him to a straight path.) which means to worship Allah alone, without partners or associate, in the manner that He prescribed and which pleases Him. وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً (And We gave him good in this world,) meaning, `We granted him all that a believer may require for a good and complete life in this world.' وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ (and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.) Concerning the Ayah: وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً (And We gave him good in this world,) Mujahid said: "This means a truthful tongue." ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا (Then, We have sent the revelation to you: "Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Hanif. ..) meaning, `because of his perfection, greatness, and the soundness of his Tawhid and his way, We revealed to you, O Seal of the Messengers and Leader of the Prophets ,' أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Hanif and he was not of the idolators.) This is like the Ayah in Surat Al-An`am: قُلْ إِنَّنِى هَدَانِى رَبِّى إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (Say: "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif and he was not of the idolators.") (6:161). Then Allah rebukes the Jews,

grateful as he was for His graces He chose him elected him and guided him to a straight path.

Surely Abraham was a community, devoted to God and unswerving, not among the associaters, grateful for His blessings. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. Abraham said, “O Lord, You were all [that I saw], and You are all.” So God said, “The community is you yourself. You are the togetherness of all, and that's it.” Indeed, “When someone belongs to God, God belongs to him.” Then He says, “grateful for His blessings.” Abraham discharged gratitude for blessings, for he recognized the Patron of Blessings. He accepted the decree without protest and he approved of whatever came forth without unwillingness. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. He saw the road of servanthood and he went straight in servanthood. He knew that he did not see that road by himself, for it was shown to him, nor did he reach it by the effort of servanthood, for he was made to reach it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “O God, do You know what has made me happy? I did not fall to You by myself. O God, You wanted-it was not I who wanted. I saw the Friend at my pillow when I woke up from sleep.” Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession.

Surely Abraham was a community, devoted to God and unswerving, not among the associaters, grateful for His blessings. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. Abraham said, “O Lord, You were all [that I saw], and You are all.” So God said, “The community is you yourself. You are the togetherness of all, and that's it.” Indeed, “When someone belongs to God, God belongs to him.” Then He says, “grateful for His blessings.” Abraham discharged gratitude for blessings, for he recognized the Patron of Blessings. He accepted the decree without protest and he approved of whatever came forth without unwillingness. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. He saw the road of servanthood and he went straight in servanthood. He knew that he did not see that road by himself, for it was shown to him, nor did he reach it by the effort of servanthood, for he was made to reach it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “O God, do You know what has made me happy? I did not fall to You by myself. O God, You wanted-it was not I who wanted. I saw the Friend at my pillow when I woke up from sleep.” Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession.

Surely Abraham was a community, devoted to God and unswerving, not among the associaters, grateful for His blessings. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. Abraham said, “O Lord, You were all [that I saw], and You are all.” So God said, “The community is you yourself. You are the togetherness of all, and that's it.” Indeed, “When someone belongs to God, God belongs to him.” Then He says, “grateful for His blessings.” Abraham discharged gratitude for blessings, for he recognized the Patron of Blessings. He accepted the decree without protest and he approved of whatever came forth without unwillingness. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. He saw the road of servanthood and he went straight in servanthood. He knew that he did not see that road by himself, for it was shown to him, nor did he reach it by the effort of servanthood, for he was made to reach it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “O God, do You know what has made me happy? I did not fall to You by myself. O God, You wanted-it was not I who wanted. I saw the Friend at my pillow when I woke up from sleep.” Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession.

Surely Abraham was a community, devoted to God and unswerving, not among the associaters, grateful for His blessings. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. Abraham said, “O Lord, You were all [that I saw], and You are all.” So God said, “The community is you yourself. You are the togetherness of all, and that's it.” Indeed, “When someone belongs to God, God belongs to him.” Then He says, “grateful for His blessings.” Abraham discharged gratitude for blessings, for he recognized the Patron of Blessings. He accepted the decree without protest and he approved of whatever came forth without unwillingness. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. He saw the road of servanthood and he went straight in servanthood. He knew that he did not see that road by himself, for it was shown to him, nor did he reach it by the effort of servanthood, for he was made to reach it. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “O God, do You know what has made me happy? I did not fall to You by myself. O God, You wanted-it was not I who wanted. I saw the Friend at my pillow when I woke up from sleep.” Her love came to me before I knew love- it came across a carefree heart and took possession.

Surely Abraham was a community, devoted to God and unswerving, not among the associaters, grateful for His blessings. He chose him and guided him to a straight path.Abraham said, �O Lord, You were all [that I saw], and You are all.�So God said, �The community is you yourself. You are the togetherness of all, and that's it.� Indeed, �When someone belongs to God, God belongs to him.�Then He says, �grateful for His blessings.� Abraham discharged gratitude for blessings, for he recognized the Patron of Blessings. He accepted the decree without protest and he approved of whatever came forth without unwillingness. He chose him and guided him to a straight path. He saw the road of servanthood and he went straight in servanthood. He knew that he did not see that road by himself, for it was shown to him, nor did he reach it by the effort of servanthood, for he was made to reach it.The Pir of the Tariqah said, �O God, do You know what has made me happy? I did not fall to You by myself. O God, You wanted-it was not I who wanted. I saw the Friend at my pillow when I woke up from sleep.�Her love came to me before I knew love-it came across a carefree heart and took possession.

إن إبراهيم كان إمامًا في الخير، وكان طائعا خاضعًا لله، لا يميل عن دين الإسلام موحِّدًا لله غير مشرك به، وكان شاكرًا لنعم الله عليه، اختاره الله لرسالته، وأرشده إلى الطريق المستقيم، وهو الإسلام، وآتيناه في الدنيا نعمة حسنة من الثناء عليه في الآخِرين والقدوة به، والولد الصالح، وإنه عند الله في الآخرة لمن الصالحين أصحاب المنازل العالية.

وقوله "شاكرا لأنعمه" أي قائما بشكر نعم الله عليه كقوله تعالى "وإبراهيم الذي وفي" أي قام بجميع ما أمره الله تعالى به وقوله "اجتباه" أي اختاره واصطفاه كقوله "ولقد آتينا إبراهيم رشده من قبل وكنا به عالمين" ثم قال "وهداه إلى صراط مستقيم" وهو عبادة الله وحده لا شريك له على شرع مرضي.

( شاكرا لأنعمه )أى : معترفا بفضل الله - تعالى - عليه ، ومستعملا نعمه فيما خلقت له ، ومؤديا حقوق خالقه فيها . قال - تعالى - : ( وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الذي وفى ) أى : قام بأداء جميع ما كلفه الله به .وبعد أن مدح - سبحانه - إبراهيم بتلك الصفات الجامعة لمجامع الخير ، أتبع ذلك ببيان فضله - تعالى - عليه فقال : ( اجتباه ) أى اختاره واصطفاه للنبوة .من الاجتباء بمعنى الاصطفاء والاختيار .واجتباء الله - تعالى - لعبده معناه : اختصاص ذلك العبد بخصائص ومزايا يحصل له عن طريقها أنواع من النعم بدون كسب منه .( وَهَدَاهُ إلى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ) أى : وأرشده إلى الطريق القويم ، الذى دعا الصالحون ربهم أن يرشدهم إليه ، حيث قالوا فى تضرعهم : ( اهدنا الصراط المستقيم ) وهو طريق الإِسلام .

( شَاكِرًا لأنْعُمِهِ ) يقول: كان يخلص الشكر لله فيما أنعم عليه، ولا يجعل معه في شكره في نعمه عليه شريكا من الآلهة والأنداد وغير ذلك ، كما يفعل مشركو قريش ( اجْتَبَاهُ ) يقول: اصطفاه واختاره لخُلته ( وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ ) يقول: وأرشده إلى الطريق المستقيم، وذلك دين الإسلام لا اليهودية ولا النصرانية.وبنحو الذي قلنا في معنى ( أُمَّةً قَانِتًا ) قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني زكريا بن يحيى، قال: ثنا ابن إدريس، عن الأعمش، عن الحكم، عن يحيى بن الجزار، عن أبي العُبَيدين، أنه جاء إلى عبد الله فقال: من نسأل إذا لم نسألك؟ فكأنّ ابن مسعود رقّ له، فقال: أخبرني عن الأمَّة ، قال: الذي يُعلَّم الناس الخير.حدثنا محمد بن بشار، قال: ثنا أبو أحمد، قال: ثنا سفيان، عن سلمة بن كهيل، عن مسلم البطين، عن أبي العُبَيدين أنه سأل عبد الله بن مسعود، عن الأمَّة القانت، قال: الأمَّة: معلم الخير، والقانت: المطيع لله ورسوله.حدثني يعقوب، قال: ثنا ابن عُلَية، عن منصور، يعني ابن عبد الرحمن، عن الشعبي ، قال: ثني فروة بن نوفل الأشجعي، قال: قال ابن مسعود: إن معاذا كان أُمَّة قانتا لله حنيفا ، فقلت في نفسي: غلط أبو عبد الرحمن، إنما قال الله تعالى ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ ) فقال: تدري ما الأمَّة ، وما القانت؟ قلت: الله أعلم ، قال: الأمَّة: الذي يعلم الخير، والقانت: المطيع لله ولرسوله، وكذلك كان مُعاذ بن جبل يعلم الخير ، وكان مطيعًا لله ولرسوله.حدثنا محمد بن المثنى، قال: ثنا محمد بن جعفر، قال: ثنا شعبة، قال: سمعت فراسا يحدّث، عن الشعبيّ، عن مسروق، عن عبد الله بن مسعود، أنه قال: إن مُعاذا كان أُمَّة قانتًا لله ، قال: فقال رجل من أشجع يُقال له فروة بن نوفل: نسي إنما ذاك إبراهيم ، قال: فقال عبد الله: من نسي إنما كنا نشبهه بإبراهيم ، قال: وسُئِل عبد الله عن الأمَّة ، فقال: معلم الخير، والقانت: المطيع لله ورسوله.حدثنا ابن بشار، قال: ثنا عبد الرحمن، قال: ثنا سفيان، عن فراس، عن الشعبيّ، عن مسروق قال: قرأت عند عبد الله هذه الآية ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ ) فقال: كان معاذ أُمَّةً قانتًا ، قال: هل تدري ما الأمَّة ، الأمَّة الذي يعلم الناس الخير، والقانت: الذي يطيع الله ورسوله.حدثنا أبو هشام الرفاعيّ، قال: ثنا ابن فضيل، قال: ثنا بيان بن بشر البَجَلي، عن الشعبيّ، قال: قال عبد الله: إن معاذا كان أُمَّة قانتا لله حنيفا ولم يك من المشركين ، فقال له رجل: نسيت ، قال: لا ولكنه شبيه إبراهيم، والأمَّة: معلِّم الخير، والقانت: المطيع.حدثني عليّ بن سعيد الكندي، قال: ثنا عبد الله بن المبارك، عن ابن عون، عن الشعبيّ، في قوله: ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا ) قال: مطيعا.حدثنا أبو كريب، قال: ثنا أبو بكر، قال: قال عبد الله: إن معاذا كان أُمَّة قانتا معلِّم الخير.وذُكر في الأمَّة أشياء مختلف فيها، قال وَادَّكَرَ بَعْدَ أُمَّةٍ يعني: بعد حين و أُمَّةً وَسَطًا .حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا حكام، عن سعيد بن سابق، عن ليث، عن شَهْر بن حَوْشَب، قال: لم تبق الأرض إلا وفيها أربعة عشر يدفع الله بهم عن أهل الأرض وتخرج بركتها، إلا زمن إبراهيم فإنه كان وحده.حدثنا القاسم ، قال: ثنا الحسين، قال: أخبرنا هشيم، قال: أخبرنا سيار، عن الشعبيّ، قال: وأخبرنا زكريا ومجالد، عن الشعبيّ، عن مسروق، عن ابن مسعود، نحو حديث يعقوب، عن ابن عُلَية وزاد فيه: الأمَّة: الذي يعلم الخير ويُؤْتمّ به ، ويقتدى به ؛ والقانت: المطيع لله وللرسول ، قال له أبو فروة الكندي: إنك وهمت.حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى ؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً ) على حدة ( قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ ) قال: مطيعا.حدثنا القاسم، قال: ثنا الحسين، قال: ثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج، عن مجاهد، مثله، إلا أنه قال: مطيعًا لله في الدنيا.قال ابن جريج: وأخبرني عويمر، عن سعيد بن جبير، أنه قال: قانتًا: مطيعًا.حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ ) قال: كان إمام هُدًى مطيعًا تُتَّبع سُنَّته ومِلَّته.حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى، قال: ثنا محمد بن ثور، عن مَعْمر، عن قتادة، أن ابن مسعود قال: إن مُعاذ بن جَبَلْ كان أُمَّةً قانتا ، قال غير قتادة: قال ابن مسعود: هل تدرون: ما الأمَّة ؟ الذي يعلم الخير.حدثنا الحسن بن يحيى، قال: أخبرنا عبد الرزاق ، قال: أخبرنا الثوريّ، عن فراس، عن الشعبيّ، عن مسروق، قال: قرأت عند عبد الله بن مسعود ( إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا ) فقال: إن معاذا كان أُمَّةً قانتا، قال: فأعادوا، فأعاد عليهم، ثم قال: أتدرون ما الأمَّة ؟ الذي يعلم الناس الخير، والقانت: الذي يطيع الله.وقد بيَّنا معنى الأمَّة ووجوهها ، ومعنى القانت باختلاف المختلفين فيه في غير هذا الموضع من كتابنا بشواهده، فأغنى بذلك عن إعادته في هذا الموضع.

( شاكرا لأنعمه اجتباه ) اختاره ، ( وهداه إلى صراط مستقيم ) أي : إلى دين الحق .

و { شاكراً لأنعمه } خبر رابع عن { كان }. وهو مدح لإبراهيم عليه السلام وتعريض بذرّيته الذين أشركوا وكفروا نعمة الله مُقابل قوله : { فكفرت بأنعم الله } [ سورة النحل : 112 ]. وتقدم قريباً الكلام على أنعُم الله .وجملة { اجتباه } مستأنفة استئنافاً بيانياً ، لأن الثّناء المتقدّم يثير سؤال سائل عن سبب فوز إبراهيم بهذه المحامد ، فيجاب بأن الله اجتباه ، كقوله تعالى : { الله أعلم حيث يجعل رسالاته } [ سورة الأنعام : 124 ].والاجتباء : الاختيار ، وهو افتعال من جبى إذا جمع . وتقدم في قوله تعالى { واجتبيناهم وهديناهم إلى صراط مستقيم } في سورة الأنعام ( 87 ).والهداية إلى الصراط المستقيم : الهداية إلى التوحيد ودين الحنيفية .وضمير آتيناه } التفات من الغيبة إلى التكلّم تفنّناً في الأسلوب لتَوَالي ثلاثة ضمائر غيبة .

{ شَاكِرًا لِأَنْعُمِهِ } أي: آتاه الله في الدنيا حسنة، وأنعم عليه بنعم ظاهرة وباطنة، فقام بشكرها، فكان نتيجة هذه الخصال الفاضلة أن { اجْتَبَاهُ } ربه واختصه بخلته وجعله من صفوة خلقه، وخيار عباده المقربين. { وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ } في علمه وعمله فعلم بالحق وآثره على غيره.

قوله تعالى : شاكرا لأنعمه اجتباه وهداه إلى صراط مستقيم وآتيناه في الدنيا حسنة وإنه في الآخرة لمن الصالحين[ ص: 180 ] قوله تعالى : شاكرا أي كان شاكرا .لأنعمه الأنعم جمع نعمة . وقد تقدماجتباه أي اختاره . وهداه إلى صراط مستقيم

In the Quran Abraham (Ibrahim) has been presented as a paragon of virtue. Why did he become such an exemplary person? Because in the face of the generally vitiated atmosphere, he was the only man who was steadfast in his Faith. All alone he stood for God, with nobody there to support him. Abraham had completely surrendered to the will of God. In the world-wide polytheistic atmosphere, he had devoted himself to the Faith of monotheism. He considered all things to have been received from God, and for that his heart was full of gratitude to God. Due to his perfect Faith, God opened all the paths of guidance for him and selected him for prophethood, so that he might acquaint the people of the world with the religion of God. Abraham was given the good things of this world (wa ataynahu fi’d dunya hasanah) as well as the good things of the Hereafter. It is known that in this world Abraham had neither crowds surrounding him nor the throne of power nor any of the other trappings of worldly glory. Nevertheless, the Quran testifies that he was given good things of the world at God’s behest. This shows that in the eyes of God the betterment of the world hinges neither on public popularity nor on wealth or power, but on what are described here as the characteristics of Abraham.

Sequence of Verses Refuted in the previous verses was the root of Shirk and Kufr which is rejection of the reality of Allah's Oneness and the rejection of the mandate given by Him to His prophet. Also refuted there were some off-shoots of Kufr and Shirk in the form of legalizing the illegal and illegalizing the legal, a virtual reversal of Divinely ordained arrangements. Since the Mushriks of Makkah who were the first direct addressees of the Holy Qur’ an and who, despite their infidelity and idol-worship, claimed that they were adherents of the great community of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and that what they did was all in accordance with his teachings, it was also taken up as due. The rejection of their position came on the basis of what they already believed in. So, in the first (120) of the five verses cited above, it was said that Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was the foremost universal leader of nations with the high station of a prophet and messenger of Allah. This proves that he was a great prophet and messenger. Then, by saying: وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِ‌كِينَ (and he was not among the Mushriks...121) along with it, his being a torch bearer of the most perfect belief in the Oneness of Allah was confirmed. And in the second verse (121), by saying that he was grateful to Allah and was on the straight path, a warning signal was given to his adversaries who claimed to be his followers - how could they, being as ungrateful as they were, had the cheek to call themselves his adherents and followers? After that it was said in the third verse (122) that Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was successful in Dunya and 'Akhirah and then it was said in the fourth verse (123) that the prophetic mission of Sayyidna Muhammad al-Mustafa ﷺ was true and that he was truly committed to the ideal of the authentic community of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . After having stated these two premises, the instruction given was: your claim cannot be correct without faith in and obedience to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . In the fifth verse (124): إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ السَّبْتُ (The Sabbath was appointed only for those...) the hint given is that good things you, on your own, have made unlawful for yourself were really not unlawful in the community of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . Commentary The word: اُمَّہ (ummah) has a few other meanings, but the well-known sense is that of community, nation, or group of people. At this place, this is what it means - as reported from Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ . The sense is that Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) is, in his person, a community, a nation, almost a compendium of their perfections and merits. There is another meaning of the word: اُمَّہ (ummah), that of the leader of a community, someone imbibing in his person many perfections. Some commentators have taken exactly this meaning of the word at this place. And the word: قَانِت (qanit) in verse 120 means obedient to the command (of his Creator). Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) has distinct status in these two qualities. As for being a leader, people from all famous Faiths of the world believe in him and consider it an honour to be the followers of his community. Of course, the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims revere him. Even the Mushriks of Arabia, despite their idol-worship, felt proud to believe in him and in (supposedly) following his way (the way of someone who was the foremost idol-breaker in human annals) ! As for the signal distinction of his being 'qanit' (obedient), it becomes crystal clear from the trials this 'friend' (khalil) of Allah has gone through. Imagine the fire of Namrud (Nimrod), the Command to go elsewhere leaving behind his family in a wilderness, and then, his being ready to sacrifice his very dear son. All these are singularities because of which Allah Ta’ ala has honoured him with such epithets.

(Thankful for His bounties) thankful to Allah for the bounties He had bestowed upon him; (He chose him) He selected him for prophethood and Islam (and He guided him unto a straight path) He made him firm on an established path with which He is pleased, i.e. Islam.