سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 125
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 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)
