فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى هَـٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ 78
Translations
And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allāh.
Transliteration
Fa-lammā ra'ā ash-shamsa bāzighatan qāla hādhā rabbī hādhā akbar, fa-lammā afalat qāla yā qawmi innī barī'un mimmā tushrikūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Prophet Ibrahim's intellectual journey toward monotheism, wherein he initially observes the sun rising and questions whether it might be his Lord due to its magnificence, but upon witnessing its setting, he rejects it and declares his disassociation from polytheism. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this not as Ibrahim actually believing the sun was divine, but rather as a pedagogical method to demonstrate to his people the logical fallacy of worshipping celestial bodies—anything that sets or changes cannot be eternal or worthy of worship. This passage exemplifies the rational proof for Allah's oneness and the rejection of idolatry through observable natural phenomena.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the broader narrative of Surah Al-An'am (verses 74-79), which recounts Ibrahim's dialogue with his father and people regarding the rejection of idolatry. It is set in a Meccan context addressing polytheistic beliefs prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia, serving as a historical and theological precedent for monotheistic conviction that would resonate with the early Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this verse's narrative, the methodology of intellectual argumentation against idolatry is supported by the broader principle in Sahih Muslim and other collections regarding the use of reason ('aql) in understanding divine signs. The ayah complements hadiths emphasizing that creation points to the Creator's existence and uniqueness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith must be grounded in rational reflection and genuine conviction rather than blind imitation of ancestral practices; it encourages the use of observable evidence and logical reasoning to strengthen one's belief in Allah's oneness and to resist social pressure toward false doctrines.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِى فَلَآ أَعْبُدُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion - then I do not worship those which you worship besides Allāh; but I worship Allāh, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
وَلِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allāh is over all things competent.
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَـٰشِفَـٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَـٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."