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 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.
102. Then, when the son reached the age to work with him, (one day) Abraham said, "My son! I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you [56]. So tell me, what do you think?" The son replied, "O my father! Do as you are commanded [58]. God willing, you will find me among those who are patient [59]."
[56]
The Dream About Sacrificing the Son:
When Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ reached the age where he could assist his father in his work, Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ was put through another great trial. For three consecutive nights, he saw in a dream that he was sacrificing that very son whom he had prayed to Allah for, and who was becoming his support in old age. Thus, he understood that this was a command from Allah.
[57]
Asking the Son:
Accordingly, Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ told his young son about this dream and sought his opinion. He ؑ did not seek his son's opinion because, if the son was not willing or refused, he ؑ would refrain from fulfilling Allah's command; rather, he asked to see whether the son would indeed prove to be righteous or not, for the prayer he ؑ had made was for a righteous son.
[58]
The Dream of a Prophet is Revelation:
From this, it is understood that upon hearing the dream, Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ also reached the conclusion that it was a command from Allah, from which it is deduced that the dream of a prophet is also revelation, and this is supported by some other verses and hadith as well.
[59]
The Son's Unparalleled Obedience:
Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ was so cheerful and open-hearted in his willingness to be sacrificed that no other example of this can be found in the world. He proved to be a most righteous and extremely obedient son. For the command to sacrifice the son was given to the father, not to the son to be sacrificed. The son, by accepting his father's command without any hesitation, attained the utmost pleasure of both his father and his Lord.
[56]
The Dream About Sacrificing the Son:
When Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ reached the age where he could assist his father in his work, Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ was put through another great trial. For three consecutive nights, he saw in a dream that he was sacrificing that very son whom he had prayed to Allah for, and who was becoming his support in old age. Thus, he understood that this was a command from Allah.
[57]
Asking the Son:
Accordingly, Sayyiduna Ibrahim ؑ told his young son about this dream and sought his opinion. He ؑ did not seek his son's opinion because, if the son was not willing or refused, he ؑ would refrain from fulfilling Allah's command; rather, he asked to see whether the son would indeed prove to be righteous or not, for the prayer he ؑ had made was for a righteous son.
[58]
The Dream of a Prophet is Revelation:
From this, it is understood that upon hearing the dream, Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ also reached the conclusion that it was a command from Allah, from which it is deduced that the dream of a prophet is also revelation, and this is supported by some other verses and hadith as well.
[59]
The Son's Unparalleled Obedience:
Sayyiduna Isma'il ؑ was so cheerful and open-hearted in his willingness to be sacrificed that no other example of this can be found in the world. He proved to be a most righteous and extremely obedient son. For the command to sacrifice the son was given to the father, not to the son to be sacrificed. The son, by accepting his father's command without any hesitation, attained the utmost pleasure of both his father and his Lord.
