سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 120
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿120﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, Ibrâhîm (Abraham) was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation, obedient to Allâh, Hanîf (i.e. to worship none but Allâh), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, and those who joined partners with Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
ib'rāhīma
Ibrahim
كَانَ
kāna
was
أُمَّةًۭ
ummatan
a nation
قَانِتًۭا
qānitan
obedient
لِّلَّهِ
lillahi
to Allah
حَنِيفًۭا
ḥanīfan
upright
وَلَمْ
walam
and not
يَكُ
yaku
he was
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
the polytheists
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.
(Ayah120) ➊ {اِنَّ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ كَانَ اُمَّةً قَانِتًا …:} Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah: «{ وَ اجْعَلْ لِّيْ لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْاٰخِرِيْنَ }» [ الشعراء : ۸۴ ] "And grant me a reputation of honor among later generations." Therefore, among the polytheists of Makkah, the Jews, and the Christians, each one claimed to honor Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and to be a follower of his religion. Thus, it is said: «{ وَ تَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْاٰخِرِيْنَ (108) سَلٰمٌ عَلٰۤى اِبْرٰهِيْمَ }» [ الصافات : ۱۰۸، ۱۰۹ ] "And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: 'Peace be upon Ibrahim.'" That is, all those who come after will send peace upon him. Therefore, Allah described the qualities and methodology of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), making it clear that none of these people are actually following the religion of Ibrahim.
➋ { اُمَّةً : } Allah mentioned the first quality of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) { ’’ اُمَّةً ‘‘ }. In this verse, the word {’’ اُمَّةً ‘‘} means leader and imam as well, as Allah said: «{ اِنِّيْ جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ اِمَامًا }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۲۴ ] "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." And also that he alone was an ummah (community), because he alone possessed so many virtues that are found in a group, and he alone did as much work as an entire ummah. The third meaning is that for a period of time, he and his wife alone were the Muslim ummah, as in the incident of the tyrant of Egypt and Sarah (peace be upon her), where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said to Sarah (peace be upon her) that at this time, in this land, there is no believer except you and me, so you are my sister in faith. [ بخاری : ۳۳۵۸ ]
➌ The second quality {’’ قَانِتًا لِّلّٰهِ ‘‘} is mentioned, meaning obedient to Allah with utmost humility, because the combined meaning of both is called "qunoot."
➍ {’’ حَنِيْفًا ‘‘} is the third quality. The meaning of {’’حَنَفٌ‘‘} is to incline to one side, that is, turning away from all false religions and inclining towards the truth, rejecting all gods and turning only to Allah. His verbal, physical, and financial worship, his life and death, all were for Allah alone. See Surah Al-An'am (161 to 163).
➎ {وَ لَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ:} This is an allusion to the polytheists of Makkah and the Jews and Christians, and a negation of all their claims of being followers of Ibrahim, that he was not among the polytheists, whereas all of you have fallen into shirk by making idols or graves, Uzair or Isa (peace be upon them), and your rabbis and monks as lords.
➋ { اُمَّةً : } Allah mentioned the first quality of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) { ’’ اُمَّةً ‘‘ }. In this verse, the word {’’ اُمَّةً ‘‘} means leader and imam as well, as Allah said: «{ اِنِّيْ جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ اِمَامًا }» [ البقرۃ : ۱۲۴ ] "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." And also that he alone was an ummah (community), because he alone possessed so many virtues that are found in a group, and he alone did as much work as an entire ummah. The third meaning is that for a period of time, he and his wife alone were the Muslim ummah, as in the incident of the tyrant of Egypt and Sarah (peace be upon her), where Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said to Sarah (peace be upon her) that at this time, in this land, there is no believer except you and me, so you are my sister in faith. [ بخاری : ۳۳۵۸ ]
➌ The second quality {’’ قَانِتًا لِّلّٰهِ ‘‘} is mentioned, meaning obedient to Allah with utmost humility, because the combined meaning of both is called "qunoot."
➍ {’’ حَنِيْفًا ‘‘} is the third quality. The meaning of {’’حَنَفٌ‘‘} is to incline to one side, that is, turning away from all false religions and inclining towards the truth, rejecting all gods and turning only to Allah. His verbal, physical, and financial worship, his life and death, all were for Allah alone. See Surah Al-An'am (161 to 163).
➎ {وَ لَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ:} This is an allusion to the polytheists of Makkah and the Jews and Christians, and a negation of all their claims of being followers of Ibrahim, that he was not among the polytheists, whereas all of you have fallen into shirk by making idols or graves, Uzair or Isa (peace be upon them), and your rabbis and monks as lords.
