Learn English translation and Tafsir of Surah Ibrahim Ayah 1 to 4
Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book, which We have revealed to you that you might bring people out of darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, leading them to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy. [Q 14:1]
Allah is the one to whom belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Woe to the disbelievers, for them, there will be severe torment. [Q 14: 2]
Those who favor the worldly life over the Hereafter and turn people away from the path of Allah, seeking to make it deviant. Those are far astray. [Q 14: 3]
We did not send any messenger but he spoke the language of his people so that he would clarify for them. Then Allah lets go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Q 14: 4]
Relationship between Surah al-Hijr and Surah Ibrahim
Both surahs begin by speaking about the Quran. In Surah al-Hijr, Allah says, interpretation of meaning, [Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the ayat of the Book, and a clear Quran.] [Q 15:1] In Surah Ibrahim, Allah says, interpretation of meaning, [Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book, which We have revealed to you that you might bring people out of darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, leading them to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.] [Q 14:1]
Both Surahs speak about the marvelous creation of Allah in the heavens, the earth, and this vast universe. Moreover, the story of Ibrahim and the stories of some prophets and their people are mentioned in both surahs. These stories are mentioned to console Messenger Muhammad [saw] for the hardship he suffered from his people and motivate him to be patient, reminding him that just as the former prophets were victorious over their enemies despite the hardship they faced, he would also triumph over the disbelievers among his people.
Some of the conditions of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment are mentioned at the end of surah Ibrahim. Allah says, interpretation of meaning,
[Their garments will be of pitch and their faces will be covered with the Fire.] [Q 14: 50]
At the beginning of surah al-Hijr, Allah has mentioned that the disbelievers will wish that they were Muslims in the worldly life after the suffering they face in the Hellfire and seeing that the believers will be brought of it. Allah says, interpretation of meaning, [Occasionally, the disbelievers will wish that they were Muslims.] [Q 15: 2]
Tafsir
Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book, which We have revealed to you that you might bring people out of darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, leading them to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy. [Q 14:1]
[Alif, Lâm, Ra.]
These three Arabic letters are called ‘al-Muqatta, separated letters’. They are among the separated letters found at the beginning of twenty-nine surah of the Quran.
The scholars differ about their meanings. Their opinions can be summarized as follows:
a) These letters have meanings; however, they differ about specifying their meanings whether they are names of Allah, names of the surahs, or that they refer to how long the nation of Muhammad [saw] will remain, and so on.
b) They are alphabetical letters and do not have meanings.
c) They have meanings, which only Allah knows.
d) Refraining from giving any opinion.
The most correct opinion is (b), i.e. they are alphabetical letters and do not have meanings. This opinion is based on the fact that the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language and its alphabetic letters do have meanings. Similarly, these separated letters at the beginning of some surahs of the Quran do not have meanings.
The wisdom behind these letters, according to those who say that they do not have meanings, is that the separated letters demonstrate the inimitability of the Quran. That is because it has not brought words or letters that are beyond the reach of man. Rather, these letters are some of the letters used in people’s speech. However, they cannot bring anything like the Quran.
[This is a Book, which We have revealed to you that you might bring people out of darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, leading them to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.] [Q 14:1]
This ayah refers to the sublime rank of the Quran. It mentions the noble purpose for which Allah, Exalted be He, revealed the Quran to His Messenger Muhammad [saw].
The book refers to the Quran.
Darknesses refer to disbelief in Allah and following the path of misguidance.
The light refers to belief in Allah and following the right path that pleases Allah, Exalted be He.
O Messenger! This Quran is a noble and sublime book. We have revealed it to you so that you might bring people out of the darknesses of disbelief in Allah, misguidance, and ignorance to the brightness of belief in Allah, knowledge, and following the path of guidance. You will be able to guide people to the right path by the permission of Allah and His command. Indeed, Allah is All-Mighty and Praiseworthy in all His deeds, statements, rules, commandments, and news, and His path is the straight path.
Though Allah, Exalted be He, is the one, who guides people to the right path, the ayah attributes bringing people out of the darknesses of disbelief to the brightness of belief to Messenger Muhammad [saw]. That is because Messenger Muhammad [saw] is one who conveys the message of Allah, which brings people out of the darknesses of disbelief to the brightness of belief in Allah.
In the Arabic version of the ayah, ‘zulumat’ translated as darknesses is used. The word ‘zulumat’ is plural in the Arabic language, which denotes that disbelief in Allah has many paths. On the other hand, belief in Allah is one and the only right path.
The ayah specifically mentions that Messenger Muhammad [saw] guides people to the path of Allah by the permission of Allah to emphasize the fact that changing the conditions of people from one state to another one happens by the permission of Allah, and that the role of Messenger Muhammad [saw] is only to convey the message of Allah.
[This is a Book, which We have revealed to you that you might bring people out of darknesses into the light, by the permission of their Lord, leading them to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.] [Q 14:1]
Sayyid Qutb, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote ,
‘Allah, Exalted be He, sent Messenger Muhammad [saw] to bring people out of the darknesses of illusion, superstition, and ignorant circumstances and traditions. Allah also sent him to bring people out of perplexity of multiple false gods, and confusion of concepts, values, and criteria.
Allah sent the Messenger [saw] to bring all humanity out of all kinds of darknesses to the brightness that reveals and uncovers all kinds of darknesses. It reveals them in the world of conception and then in real life with its values, circumstances, and traditions.
Belief in Allah is the light that shines in the heart whereby all human existence shines. The human body is composed of hard muddy substance and divine endowment. If it becomes empty of the brightness of the divine endowment, and this brightness is obliterated, it becomes lightless mud that is made of flesh and blood just like animals. Flesh and blood come from the muddy substance. That divine endowment softens and cleans the human body and makes it transparent.
Belief in Allah is the light that brightens the heart so it can see the path. It can see the path of Allah clearly without any confusion nor doubt as well as without the confusion of illusions, superstitions, whims, or greediness. When the heart sees the path of Allah, it walks firmly without stumbling, confusion, hesitation, nor perplexity.
Belief in Allah is the light that illuminates life. Thus, all people are equal slaves of Allah, connecting between them the bond of servitude and submission to Allah alone. They are not divided into slaves and tyrants. Their bond with the universe is knowledge of its great law as well as what it contains and who are therein. Accordingly, they enjoy peace with the universe, its components, and the creatures therein.
Belief in Allah alone is the light of justice, the light of freedom, the light of knowledge, and the light of cordiality by being close to Allah, and being reassured by His justice, mercy, and wisdom in times of comfort and hardship. Such reassurance necessitates being patient at times of hardship, and thankful at times of comfort, believing that there must be wisdom behind the affliction.’ [Fi Zilal al Quran]
Allah is the one to whom belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. Woe to the disbelievers, for them, there will be severe torment. [Q 14: 2]
The ayah refers to some aspects of the ability of Allah, Exalted be He. Allah is the only owner of whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. No one shares with Him, Exalted be He, the ownership of this universe.
[Woe to the disbelievers, for them, there will be severe torment.]
This is a threat to the disbelievers. Woe to the disbelievers in Allah and His Messenger. Severe torment will befall them on the Day of Judgment.
Those who favor the worldly life over the Hereafter and turn people away from the path of Allah, seeking to make it deviant. Those are far astray. [Q 14: 3]
This ayah mentions some attributes of the disbelievers.
- They favor the worldly life over the Hereafter and dedicate their efforts to attain the pleasures of the worldly life to the exclusion of the Hereafter.
- They turn people away from following the path of Allah, i.e. Islam, using various means.
- They seek to make Islam deviant to agree with their whims and goals, though it has a straight methodology. For example, deviation in respect of not applying Islamic law and claiming that it is unsuitable to be applied in certain eras.
[Those are far astray.]
Those people are extremely gone astray away from the right path that pleases Allah, Exalted be He. Indeed, no deviation is greater than deviation away from Islam, the religion Allah has chosen for His slaves.
We did not send any messenger but he spoke the language of his people so that he would clarify for them. Then Allah lets go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. [Q 14: 4]
One of the bounties of Allah on His slaves is that He revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad to bring people out of darknesses of disbelief and guide them to the straight path, Islam. This constitutes a great bounty on the Messenger [saw] as Allah authorized him to convey Islam. It is also a bounty on the people as Allah sent them a messenger to guide them to Islam and bring them out of the darknesses of disbelief. Ayah [4] mentions another bounty of Allah on His slaves.
The former messengers of Allah were sent to their people; whereas, Messenger Muhammad [saw] was sent to all people. Sending a messenger who speaks the language of his people facilitates understanding of the message of Allah.
The meaning of ayah [Q 14: 4] is as follows: O Messenger! We did not send any messenger before you but he spoke the language of his people so that they could understand his speech and comprehend the commands and prohibitions that he would convey to them.
Someone may say, ‘Messenger Muhammad [saw] was not sent only to the Arab; rather, he was sent to all people as well as the jinn, and they speak different languages. If the Arabs do not have any excuse, other nations have an excuse. Moreover, if other nations do not have an excuse if the Quran had been revealed in another language other than Arabic, the Arabs will not have any excuse too. The issue is that the Quran should be revealed either in all languages or in one of them. As for revealing it in all languages, there is no need to do so because translation serves as a substitute for doing so and makes up for lengthy revelation. Thus, there remains only one thing, namely, the Quran would be revealed in one language. The most appropriate language would be the language of the people of Messenger Muhammad [saw] because the Arabs were the closest people to him. If they understood the Quran fully from him, transmitted, and spread it, the translation would transmit it and help in explaining it to other nations. [al-Zamakhshari, al-Kashashaaf ‘an Haqa’iq at-Tanzil]
If the Quran was revealed in the languages of all people to whom Messenger Muhammad [saw] was sent, it would lead to dispute and argumentation because every nation might allege that its version had meanings that were not found in the other versions. Furthermore, such a matter may cause distortion and alteration.
[And Allah lets go astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.]
After sending the messengers and clarifying the path that pleases Allah, people are divided into two parties. A party that goes astray because it is completely heedless, extremely sinning, and stubborn. Another party that follows the path pleases Allah, Exalted be He.
Indeed, Allah is the All-Mighty and no one can overcome Him. What Allah wants happens and what He does not want does not happen. Moreover, Allah is All-Wise in His deeds and statements. He causes to go astray those who deserve to be misguided and guides to Islam those who deserve to be guided.
Learned Lessons from Surah Ibrahim Ayah 1-4
• Allah, Exalted be He, revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad [saw] to bring people out of darknesses of disbelief into belief in Allah, the Creator by the permission and bounty of Allah.
• Disbelief in Allah, ignorance, and misguidance have many ways; whereas, the path pleasing to Allah, Islam, is one path.
• Allah alone owns all that is in the heavens and the earth.
• The punishment of the disbelievers will be severe torment in Hell.
• The disbelievers deserve severe torment because they favor the worldly life over the Hereafter, turn people away from following Islam, and seek to make deviant the path of Allah to achieve their corrupt aims.
• Allah, out of His bounty and mercy, sent His messengers, speaking the languages of their nations to facilitate understanding the message of Allah for their people.
• The duty of the messengers of Allah is to convey His message. Allah, out of His knowledge and wisdom guides to the right path those who deserve to be guided and let go astray those who deserve it.
English Translation of Surah Ibrahim Ayah 47-52
Warning to the Wrongdoers English Translation of Surah Ibrahim Ayah 42-46
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