سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 33
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ وَنُوحًا وَءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَءَالَ عِمْرَٰنَ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿33﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh chose Adam, Nûh (Noah), the family of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and the family of ‘Imrân above the ‘Âlamîn (mankind and jinn) (of their times).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ
iṣ'ṭafā
chose
ءَادَمَ
ādama
Adam
وَنُوحًۭا
wanūḥan
and Nuh
وَءَالَ
waāla
and (the) family
إِبْرَٰهِيمَ
ib'rāhīma
(of) Ibrahim
وَءَالَ
waāla
and (the) family
عِمْرَٰنَ
ʿim'rāna
(of) Imran
عَلَى
ʿalā
over
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
the worlds
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.
Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all people of the worlds.
[35]
The Principle of Prophethood:
This verse mentions Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ and his community, the Christians. In this verse, it is explained that Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ was a human being and from the progeny of Adam. He was not a superhuman entity. Then, it is further explained under what circumstances and how his birth took place. After that, a brief account of his life is given, and then the mention of Allah raising Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ up to Himself, along with the refutation of the false beliefs of the Christians. When Allah created Adam, at that time among the existing creation (the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, the stars, the jinn, and the angels, etc.), the angels were superior to all other creatures. Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (ʿAlaihis Salam) and granted Adam superiority over all the worlds, then honored him with prophethood. Then, prophets continued to be born from his progeny. After Noah (Nuh) ؑ, the chain of prophethood became exclusive to the descendants of Noah (Nuh) ؑ, which continued up to Abraham (Ibrahim) ؑ. Then, this chain of prophethood became exclusive to the descendants of Abraham (Ibrahim) ؑ, until the Last Prophet was also from his progeny. The mention of the family of Imran is especially made because lineage is traced through the father, and Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ was born without a father. However, his mother Maryam (Mary) ؑ was from the family of Imran, and Allah has attributed Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ to his mother Maryam. This Imran was the name of the father of Moses (Musa) ؑ and Aaron (Harun) ؑ. Maryam (Mary) ؑ was from their descendants, and the name of this surah, Aal-e-Imran, is also due to this relation. It is also possible that the name of Maryam’s (Mary’s) father was also Imran, as is indicated by the words of the verse ﴿ قَالَتِ امْرَاَتُ عِمْرٰنَ ﴾.
[35]
The Principle of Prophethood:
This verse mentions Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ and his community, the Christians. In this verse, it is explained that Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ was a human being and from the progeny of Adam. He was not a superhuman entity. Then, it is further explained under what circumstances and how his birth took place. After that, a brief account of his life is given, and then the mention of Allah raising Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ up to Himself, along with the refutation of the false beliefs of the Christians. When Allah created Adam, at that time among the existing creation (the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, the stars, the jinn, and the angels, etc.), the angels were superior to all other creatures. Allah commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (ʿAlaihis Salam) and granted Adam superiority over all the worlds, then honored him with prophethood. Then, prophets continued to be born from his progeny. After Noah (Nuh) ؑ, the chain of prophethood became exclusive to the descendants of Noah (Nuh) ؑ, which continued up to Abraham (Ibrahim) ؑ. Then, this chain of prophethood became exclusive to the descendants of Abraham (Ibrahim) ؑ, until the Last Prophet was also from his progeny. The mention of the family of Imran is especially made because lineage is traced through the father, and Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ was born without a father. However, his mother Maryam (Mary) ؑ was from the family of Imran, and Allah has attributed Jesus (ʿIsa) ؑ to his mother Maryam. This Imran was the name of the father of Moses (Musa) ؑ and Aaron (Harun) ؑ. Maryam (Mary) ؑ was from their descendants, and the name of this surah, Aal-e-Imran, is also due to this relation. It is also possible that the name of Maryam’s (Mary’s) father was also Imran, as is indicated by the words of the verse ﴿ قَالَتِ امْرَاَتُ عِمْرٰنَ ﴾.
