Al-An'am · Ayah 77

فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِى رَبِّى لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 77

Translations

And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray."

Transliteration

Falamma raa'a al-qamara baazighan qala hatha rabbi, falamma afalá qala la'in lam yahdini rabbi la-akoonanna mina al-qawmi al-daalleen.

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah describes Prophet Ibrahim's spiritual journey of seeking the truth, where he observed the moon rising and initially thought it might be his Lord, but when it set, he realized it could not be worthy of worship. Ibn Kathir explains this as Ibrahim's intellectual investigation to guide his people away from idolatry by demonstrating the logical inadequacy of worshipping celestial bodies. The ayah shows Ibrahim's sincere seeking of divine guidance and his explicit dependence on Allah to not leave him among the misguided.

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of the narrative of Ibrahim (Abraham) in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Prophet Muhammad faced polytheistic practices. The passage illustrates Ibrahim's methodical refutation of idolatry and his personal spiritual quest, serving as a model for the Meccan believers confronting pagan traditions. This narrative continues across multiple ayahs (6:75-79) showing his progressive realization of Allah's oneness.

Related Hadiths

While no hadith directly narrates this incident, the hadith 'The best of you are those who study the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari) relates to understanding Ibrahim's example of seeking knowledge and truth. Additionally, hadiths about Ibrahim's station as a patriarch emphasize his role as 'khalil' (intimate friend) of Allah due to his unwavering faith and sincere seeking.

Themes

monotheism and tawhidrejection of idolatryintellectual reasoning in faithspiritual seeking and guidanceprophet Ibrahim's characterdependence on divine guidance

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches believers to intellectually examine their faith and not blindly follow inherited beliefs, while simultaneously recognizing that true guidance comes only from Allah. It encourages sincere supplication and demonstrates that seeking divine guidance with humility is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

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Related Ayahs

6:100Al-An'am

وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ٱلْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ ۖ وَخَرَقُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَنِينَ وَبَنَـٰتٍۭ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

But they have attributed to Allāh partners - the jinn, while He has created them - and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Exalted is He and high above what they describe.

6:93Al-An'am

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ قَالَ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ وَلَمْ يُوحَ إِلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَن قَالَ سَأُنزِلُ مِثْلَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى غَمَرَٰتِ ٱلْمَوْتِ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَاسِطُوٓا۟ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ ٱلْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

And who is more unjust than one who invents a lie about Allāh or says, "It has been inspired to me," while nothing has been inspired to him, and one who says, "I will reveal [something] like what Allāh revealed." And if you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Discharge your souls! Today you will be awarded the punishment of [extreme] humiliation for what you used to say against Allāh other than the truth and [that] you were, toward His verses, being arrogant."

6:28Al-An'am

بَلْ بَدَا لَهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يُخْفُونَ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلَوْ رُدُّوا۟ لَعَادُوا۟ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ

But what they concealed before has [now] appeared to them. And even if they were returned, they would return to that which they were forbidden; and indeed, they are liars.

6:147Al-An'am

فَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل رَّبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَٰسِعَةٍ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ

So if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], say, "Your Lord is the possessor of vast mercy; but His punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals."