سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 124
۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَـٰتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿124﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [i.e., Allâh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allâh) said (to him), "Verily, I am going to make you an Imâm (a leader) for mankind (to follow you)." [Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] said, "And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allâh) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood) includes not Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَإِذِ
wa-idhi
And when
ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ
ib'talā
tried
إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ
ib'rāhīma
Ibrahim
رَبُّهُۥ
rabbuhu
his Lord
بِكَلِمَـٰتٍۢ
bikalimātin
with words
فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ
fa-atammahunna
and he fulfilled them
قَالَ
qāla
He said
إِنِّى
innī
Indeed I
جَاعِلُكَ
jāʿiluka
(am) the One to make you
لِلنَّاسِ
lilnnāsi
for the mankind
إِمَامًۭا ۖ
imāman
a leader
قَالَ
qāla
He said
وَمِن
wamin
And from
ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ
dhurriyyatī
my offspring
قَالَ
qāla
He said
لَا
lā
(Does) not
يَنَالُ
yanālu
reach
عَهْدِى
ʿahdī
My Covenant
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
(to) the wrongdoers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
124. And when Abraham ؑ was tested by his Lord with certain commands [149], and he fulfilled them, Allah said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." Abraham ؑ asked, "And from my descendants as well?" Allah replied, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." [150]
[149]
In What Matters Was Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ Tested:
Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ did not attain the leadership of the entire world just like that; rather, from the age of understanding until his death, his whole life was nothing but sacrifice upon sacrifice. Among the things that people love in this world, there was nothing that Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ did not sacrifice for the sake of truth, nor did he refrain from enduring hardships for its sake. Some of these are as follows:
1. He was born in the house of an idol-maker and idol-seller. The father wanted the son to assist him in this work. But instead, heؑ began to explain to him in the best manner. When the father lost hope in him, he threatened to expel him from the house. Heؑ accepted the hardships of exile for the sake of truth.
2. On the occasion of the national festival, he smashed the idols, as a result of which it was decided to burn himؑ in the fire. Heؑ willingly agreed to jump into it.
3. Heؑ left his wife Hajarah علیہا السلام and his suckling child, according to Allah’s command, in a barren and desolate land where there was no arrangement for food or drink, nor were there any signs of habitation as far as the eye could see.
4. When the son Ismailؑ, who was granted in old age, grew up a little, he was commanded to sacrifice him. He was ready for this without hesitation or delay. In short, the list of his sacrifices and trials is quite long. Finally, Allah Himself granted this certificate that We tested Ibrahimؑ in many matters, and he fulfilled every test. Therefore, as a result of these trials, Allah made him the leader of the whole world, and for all times until the Day of Judgment, attached the chain of prophethood to his progeny alone, and most of the religions of the world consider it an honor and pride to attribute their religion to himؑ.
[150]
Leader of All People:
That is, the promise of leadership is only related to those of your descendants who are righteous. There is no such promise for the wrongdoers and sinners. From here, the false belief of the Jews is refuted, who thought that since we are the descendants of the prophets, we will not face any punishment in the Hereafter.
[149]
In What Matters Was Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ Tested:
Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ did not attain the leadership of the entire world just like that; rather, from the age of understanding until his death, his whole life was nothing but sacrifice upon sacrifice. Among the things that people love in this world, there was nothing that Sayyiduna Ibrahimؑ did not sacrifice for the sake of truth, nor did he refrain from enduring hardships for its sake. Some of these are as follows:
1. He was born in the house of an idol-maker and idol-seller. The father wanted the son to assist him in this work. But instead, heؑ began to explain to him in the best manner. When the father lost hope in him, he threatened to expel him from the house. Heؑ accepted the hardships of exile for the sake of truth.
2. On the occasion of the national festival, he smashed the idols, as a result of which it was decided to burn himؑ in the fire. Heؑ willingly agreed to jump into it.
3. Heؑ left his wife Hajarah علیہا السلام and his suckling child, according to Allah’s command, in a barren and desolate land where there was no arrangement for food or drink, nor were there any signs of habitation as far as the eye could see.
4. When the son Ismailؑ, who was granted in old age, grew up a little, he was commanded to sacrifice him. He was ready for this without hesitation or delay. In short, the list of his sacrifices and trials is quite long. Finally, Allah Himself granted this certificate that We tested Ibrahimؑ in many matters, and he fulfilled every test. Therefore, as a result of these trials, Allah made him the leader of the whole world, and for all times until the Day of Judgment, attached the chain of prophethood to his progeny alone, and most of the religions of the world consider it an honor and pride to attribute their religion to himؑ.
[150]
Leader of All People:
That is, the promise of leadership is only related to those of your descendants who are righteous. There is no such promise for the wrongdoers and sinners. From here, the false belief of the Jews is refuted, who thought that since we are the descendants of the prophets, we will not face any punishment in the Hereafter.
