سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ
Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 102
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿102﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offering you in sacrifice to Allâh). So look what you think!" He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, In shâ’ Allâh (if Allâh wills), you shall find me of As-Sâbirûn (the patient)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
بَلَغَ
balagha
he reached
مَعَهُ
maʿahu
the (age of) working with him
ٱلسَّعْىَ
l-saʿya
the (age of) working with him
قَالَ
qāla
he said
يَـٰبُنَىَّ
yābunayya
O my son
إِنِّىٓ
innī
Indeed, I
أَرَىٰ
arā
have seen
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْمَنَامِ
l-manāmi
the dream
أَنِّىٓ
annī
that I am
أَذْبَحُكَ
adhbaḥuka
sacrificing you
فَٱنظُرْ
fa-unẓur
so look
مَاذَا
mādhā
what
تَرَىٰ ۚ
tarā
you see
قَالَ
qāla
He said
يَـٰٓأَبَتِ
yāabati
O my father
ٱفْعَلْ
if'ʿal
Do
مَا
mā
what
تُؤْمَرُ ۖ
tu'maru
you are commanded
سَتَجِدُنِىٓ
satajidunī
You will find me
إِن
in
if
شَآءَ
shāa
Allah wills
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah wills
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
l-ṣābirīna
the patient ones
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 102) ➊ { فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ …: ’’ يٰبُنَيَّ ‘‘ ’’اِبْنٌ‘‘} is the diminutive form, O my little son! The meaning is, O my beloved son! Ibrahim (peace be upon him) used to come from time to time from Syria to inquire about Ismail (peace be upon him) and his mother. When the son reached the age of running about with him, that is, when he became capable of helping his father, a new test from Allah came to Ibrahim (peace be upon him). That was that he saw in a dream that he was slaughtering his very dear son, who was granted to him in old age after many prayers and desires. The dream of a prophet is also revelation, so he considered it a command from Allah and, without any hesitation, firmly resolved to act upon it, and said to his son, O my beloved son! I see in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so see, what do you think?
➋ { فَانْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرٰى:} The purpose of asking the son's opinion was not that if he refused, he would not act upon Allah's command, but rather he wanted to include his son in obedience to Allah's command, and he hoped that the son would surely express readiness to comply with Allah's command, because Allah had given him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy, and indeed the son proved to be forbearing by saying what is mentioned in the next sentence.
➌ { قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ:’’ يٰۤاَبَتِ ‘‘} For explanation, see Surah Yusuf (4). From this it is understood that Ismail (peace be upon him) did not consider it merely a dream but a command from Allah, and said, O my father! Do what you are commanded. This is clear evidence that the dream of the prophets is revelation. Both Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) understood it as such, and both were ready to comply with it as a command from Allah.
➍ { سَتَجِدُنِيْۤ اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ :} In this, along with the perfect obedience of Ismail (peace be upon him), his perfect patience is also manifested, which was the result of his being {’’ غُلَامٌ حَلِيْمٌ ‘‘}. Along with obedience and patience, his beautiful etiquette for Allah Almighty is also manifested, that he made his obedience and sacrifice subject to the will of Allah, that if He wills, I will be patient in this trial.
➋ { فَانْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرٰى:} The purpose of asking the son's opinion was not that if he refused, he would not act upon Allah's command, but rather he wanted to include his son in obedience to Allah's command, and he hoped that the son would surely express readiness to comply with Allah's command, because Allah had given him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy, and indeed the son proved to be forbearing by saying what is mentioned in the next sentence.
➌ { قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ:’’ يٰۤاَبَتِ ‘‘} For explanation, see Surah Yusuf (4). From this it is understood that Ismail (peace be upon him) did not consider it merely a dream but a command from Allah, and said, O my father! Do what you are commanded. This is clear evidence that the dream of the prophets is revelation. Both Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) understood it as such, and both were ready to comply with it as a command from Allah.
➍ { سَتَجِدُنِيْۤ اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ :} In this, along with the perfect obedience of Ismail (peace be upon him), his perfect patience is also manifested, which was the result of his being {’’ غُلَامٌ حَلِيْمٌ ‘‘}. Along with obedience and patience, his beautiful etiquette for Allah Almighty is also manifested, that he made his obedience and sacrifice subject to the will of Allah, that if He wills, I will be patient in this trial.
