سُوْرَةُ اٰلِ عِمْرٰنَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan (3) — Ayah 67
مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿67﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Ibrâhîm (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanîfa (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn (See V.2:105).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَا
mā
Not
كَانَ
kāna
was
إِبْرَٰهِيمُ
ib'rāhīmu
Ibrahim
يَهُودِيًّۭا
yahūdiyyan
a Jew
وَلَا
walā
and not
نَصْرَانِيًّۭا
naṣrāniyyan
a Christian
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
[and] but
كَانَ
kāna
he was
حَنِيفًۭا
ḥanīfan
a true
مُّسْلِمًۭا
mus'liman
Muslim
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كَانَ
kāna
he was
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
l-mush'rikīna
the polytheists
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.
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was upright, devoted to Allah, and he was not of the polytheists [60].
[60] Remember that Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ was purely obedient to the command of Allah. He did not bow before any other tyrannical power. He was purely a monotheist, not a polytheist, whereas both of you are polytheists. The Jews call Uzair ؑ the son of Allah, and the Christians call Isa ؑ the son of Allah, a god, and the third of three gods—everything. Besides this, you do not even fulfill all the commands of Allah. You have set aside the Book of Allah. Then how can you be followers of Hazrat Ibrahim? And how could he be upon your religion?
[60] Remember that Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ was purely obedient to the command of Allah. He did not bow before any other tyrannical power. He was purely a monotheist, not a polytheist, whereas both of you are polytheists. The Jews call Uzair ؑ the son of Allah, and the Christians call Isa ؑ the son of Allah, a god, and the third of three gods—everything. Besides this, you do not even fulfill all the commands of Allah. You have set aside the Book of Allah. Then how can you be followers of Hazrat Ibrahim? And how could he be upon your religion?
