سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 123
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿123﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) Hanif (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh) and he was not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters and disbelievers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
أَوْحَيْنَآ
awḥaynā
We revealed
إِلَيْكَ
ilayka
to you
أَنِ
ani
that
ٱتَّبِعْ
ittabiʿ
You follow
مِلَّةَ
millata
(the) religion
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
حَنِيفًۭا ۖ
ḥanīfan
upright
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
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.
(Ayah123) ➊ {ثُمَّ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلَيْكَ اَنِ اتَّبِعْ …:} That is, in all matters related to halal and haram and religion, the origin is neither Judaism, nor Christianity, nor the polytheism which these disbelievers of Makkah are committing. Rather, the origin is the religion of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), which was pure monotheism, and in it, those things were not forbidden which were later made forbidden for the Jews due to their mischief. Therefore, if there is any religion worthy of your following, it is only the religion of Ibrahim. (Ibn Kathir)
➋ The word {’’ ثُمَّ ‘‘} here is not for actual sequence but for the order of mention, and at the end, among the virtues of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), a very great virtue has been stated, that is, along with these virtues, look at this virtue of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (who, although from the descendants of Ibrahim, is the leader of all the children of Adam) was also commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim. In the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) being a follower of the religion of Ibrahim, not only is the virtue of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) evident, but also the greatness of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is manifest, that being commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim became a cause of virtue for Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
➋ The word {’’ ثُمَّ ‘‘} here is not for actual sequence but for the order of mention, and at the end, among the virtues of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), a very great virtue has been stated, that is, along with these virtues, look at this virtue of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (who, although from the descendants of Ibrahim, is the leader of all the children of Adam) was also commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim. In the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) being a follower of the religion of Ibrahim, not only is the virtue of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) evident, but also the greatness of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is manifest, that being commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim became a cause of virtue for Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
