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 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 125) ➊ {وَ مَنْ اَحْسَنُ دِيْنًا …: } In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated the conditions for the acceptance of deeds. The first is that one should submit his face to Allah Almighty. The second is that he should be a doer of good (muhsin). The third is that he should follow the religion of Ibrahim, who was upright (hanif). Submitting the face means to completely surrender oneself to Allah, to end one’s own will and follow His will; this is faith. Being a doer of good means to perform every deed purely for Allah, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said about ihsan: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ ] [ بخاری، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبیّ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم : ۵۰ ] And following the religion of Ibrahim means to become fully obedient to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because now, until the Day of Judgment, only the Muslim Ummah is established upon the religion of Ibrahim, as Allah Almighty said: «{ اِنَّ اَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِاِبْرٰهِيْمَ لَلَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ وَ هٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا }» [ آل عمران : ۶۸ ] “Indeed, the people who are closest to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe.” And see Surah An-Nahl (123). If there is no faith, then no deed is accepted; if there is no ihsan and sincerity, then it is showing off, which is shirk; and if it is not upon the way of the Prophet, then it is not Sunnah, but rather innovation (bid‘ah).
➋ { خَلِيْلًا:} The friendship that reaches the depths of the heart and in which there is no flaw from any aspect. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty has also made me His close friend (khaleel) just as He made Ibrahim (peace be upon him) His close friend.” [ مسلم، المساجد، باب النھی عن بناء المساجد علی القبور… : ۵۳۲ ]
➋ { خَلِيْلًا:} The friendship that reaches the depths of the heart and in which there is no flaw from any aspect. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah Almighty has also made me His close friend (khaleel) just as He made Ibrahim (peace be upon him) His close friend.” [ مسلم، المساجد، باب النھی عن بناء المساجد علی القبور… : ۵۳۲ ]
