سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ

Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 125

The Women · Medinan · Juz 5 · Page 98

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وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا ﴿125﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allâh (i.e. follows Allâh’s religion of Islâmic Monotheism); and he is a Muhsin (a good-doer - See V.2:112). And follows the religion of Ibrâhîm(Abraham) Hanîfa (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh Alone). And Allâh did take Ibrâhîm (Abraham) as a Khalîl (an intimate friend)!

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

وَمَنْ waman And who
أَحْسَنُ aḥsanu (is) better
دِينًۭا dīnan (in) religion
مِّمَّنْ mimman than (one) who
أَسْلَمَ aslama submits
وَجْهَهُۥ wajhahu his face
لِلَّهِ lillahi to Allah
وَهُوَ wahuwa and he
مُحْسِنٌۭ muḥ'sinun (is) a good-doer
وَٱتَّبَعَ wa-ittabaʿa and follows
مِلَّةَ millata (the) religion
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ib'rāhīma (of) Ibrahim
حَنِيفًۭا ۗ ḥanīfan (the) upright
وَٱتَّخَذَ wa-ittakhadha And was taken
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu (by) Allah
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ib'rāhīma Ibrahim
خَلِيلًۭا khalīlan (as) a friend

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 125) ➊ {وَ مَنْ اَحْسَنُ دِيْنًا …: } In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated the conditions for the acceptance of deeds. The first is that one should submit his face to Allah Almighty. The second is that he should be a doer of good (muhsin). The third is that he should follow the religion of Ibrahim, who was upright (hanif). Submitting the face means to completely surrender oneself to Allah, to end one’s own will and follow His will; this is faith. Being a doer of good means to perform every deed purely for Allah, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about ihsan: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ ] [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبیّ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۵۰ ] And following the religion of Ibrahim means to become fully obedient to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because now, until the Day of Judgment, only the Muslim Ummah is established upon the religion of Ibrahim, as Allah Almighty said: «{ اِنَّ اَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِاِبْرٰهِيْمَ لَلَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ وَ هٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا }» [ آل عمران : ۶۸ ] “Indeed, the people who are closest to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe.” And see Surah An-Nahl (123). If there is no faith, then no deed is accepted; if there is no ihsan and sincerity, then it is showing off, which is shirk; and if it is not upon the way of the Prophet, then it is not Sunnah, but rather innovation (bid‘ah).

➋ { خَلِيْلًا:} The friendship that reaches the depths of the heart and in which there is no flaw from any aspect. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty has also made me His close friend (khaleel) just as He made Ibrahim (peace be upon him) His close friend.” [ مسلم، المساجد، باب النھی عن بناء المساجد علی القبور… : ۵۳۲ ]

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

125. 1. Here, a criterion and an example of success are being described. The criterion is to surrender oneself to Allah, become a Muhsin, and follow the Millat of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), and the example is that of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) whom Allah made His Khalil. Khalil means that the love of Allah becomes so deeply rooted in one's heart that there remains no place for anyone else. Khalil (on the pattern of Fa'eel) means the doer, like 'Alim' meaning 'one who knows', and some say it means the object, like 'Habib' meaning 'one who is loved'. And Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was certainly both a lover of Allah and beloved by Him (Fath al-Qadeer). And the Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah has also made me His Khalil just as He made Ibrahim (عليه السلام) His Khalil." (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Masajid)

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

125. And whose religion is better than one who submits himself to Allah, is a doer of good, and follows the way of Abraham, the upright? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend [164].

[164]
The Characteristics of the Religion of Ibrahim:

There are two notable characteristics of the religion of Sayyiduna Ibrahim. The first is that, for the sake of Allah, he confronted all tyrannical powers. He rejected the blind following of forefathers, opposed idol worship and star worship, and denied the divinity of Nimrod. Since he confronted all the tyrannical powers of his time and, in facing them, sought refuge only with Allah, he was called "Hanif," and this is the very meaning of Hanif. The second characteristic was that he willingly and gladly submitted his head before all the commands of Allah Almighty. He did not accept only what was easy or pleasing to the self and leave what was difficult or disliked, nor did he interpret the disliked commands according to his own preference and act accordingly. It was these two characteristics due to which Allah Almighty, after putting Sayyiduna Ibrahim through various trials and tests, made him His friend. Now, whoever claims to follow the religion of Ibrahim should measure himself against these two characteristics to see how truthful he is in his claim; it does not matter whether he is a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim, or anyone else. The religion of Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ is the very religion that Allah Almighty has declared superior to all other religions, and this religion is called Islam, which has been the way of all the Prophets. And the important components of this religion are two:
(1) Submitting one's head before the commands of Allah.
(2) Performing good deeds.
And the meaning of these two components is so broad that the entire Shari'ah is encompassed within them.
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