سُوْرَةُ الْعَنْكَبُوْتِ
Surah Al-Ankaboot (29) — Ayah 16
وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۖ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) Ibrâhîm (Abraham) when he said to his people: "Worship Allâh (Alone), and fear Him: that is better for you if you did but know.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ
wa-ib'rāhīma
And Ibrahim
إِذْ
idh
when
قَالَ
qāla
he said
لِقَوْمِهِ
liqawmihi
to his people
ٱعْبُدُوا۟
uʿ'budū
Worship
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۖ
wa-ittaqūhu
and fear Him
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
That
خَيْرٌۭ
khayrun
(is) better
لَّكُمْ
lakum
for you
إِن
in
if
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you
تَعْلَمُونَ
taʿlamūna
know
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 16) ➊ The conjunction of {وَ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ اِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ اعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ …:’’ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ ‘‘} is with {’’ نُوْحًا ‘‘} and it is the object of {’’ اَرْسَلْنَا ‘‘}, meaning "And We sent Ibrahim." Some commentators have made it the object of {’’اُذْكُرْ‘‘}, that is, "Remember Ibrahim." Although this is also possible, but further ahead in verse (36) from {’’ وَ اِلٰى مَدْيَنَ اَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ‘‘} it is evident that the preferred view is that it is the object of {’’ اَرْسَلْنَا ‘‘}. For the story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), see Surah Al-Baqarah (Ruku 15, 16, and 35), Aal-e-Imran (Ruku 7), Al-An'am (Ruku 9), Hud (Ruku 7), Ibrahim (Ruku 6), Al-Hijr (Ruku 4), Maryam (Ruku 3), Al-Anbiya (Ruku 5), Ash-Shu'ara (5), As-Saffat (Ruku 3), Az-Zukhruf (Ruku 3), and Adh-Dhariyat (Ruku 2).
➋ After mentioning Nuh (peace be upon him), Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is mentioned because his trial was also very great. He was thrown into the fire, had to migrate, and Allah Almighty tested him with many things and he fulfilled all of them. (See Al-Baqarah: 124) Among these trials, the greatest was inviting his people to monotheism, who were idol worshippers. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) commanded them to worship Allah Almighty and fear Him, meaning fear that if you do not worship Him, do not obey His command, or associate anyone with Him, then He will punish you.
➌ { ذٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ: ’’ خَيْرٌ ‘‘} is originally {’’ أَخْيَرُ ‘‘}, which is the comparative form, meaning "better," but here the meaning of preference is not intended, because monotheism is not just better than polytheism, rather monotheism itself is good, there is no goodness whatsoever in polytheism. (Sa'di) Or it means that whatever you are doing and in your opinion there is some kind of good in it, but worshipping Allah and fearing Him is always far better than that (even though in reality there is no good in idol worship). (Alusi)
➍ {اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ:} means if you have any knowledge at all. It is understood that only one who is completely deprived of knowledge falls into polytheism.
➋ After mentioning Nuh (peace be upon him), Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is mentioned because his trial was also very great. He was thrown into the fire, had to migrate, and Allah Almighty tested him with many things and he fulfilled all of them. (See Al-Baqarah: 124) Among these trials, the greatest was inviting his people to monotheism, who were idol worshippers. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) commanded them to worship Allah Almighty and fear Him, meaning fear that if you do not worship Him, do not obey His command, or associate anyone with Him, then He will punish you.
➌ { ذٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ: ’’ خَيْرٌ ‘‘} is originally {’’ أَخْيَرُ ‘‘}, which is the comparative form, meaning "better," but here the meaning of preference is not intended, because monotheism is not just better than polytheism, rather monotheism itself is good, there is no goodness whatsoever in polytheism. (Sa'di) Or it means that whatever you are doing and in your opinion there is some kind of good in it, but worshipping Allah and fearing Him is always far better than that (even though in reality there is no good in idol worship). (Alusi)
➍ {اِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُوْنَ:} means if you have any knowledge at all. It is understood that only one who is completely deprived of knowledge falls into polytheism.
