وَحَآجَّهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ ۚ قَالَ أَتُحَـٰٓجُّوٓنِّى فِى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنِ ۚ وَلَآ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ 80
Translations
And his people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me concerning Allāh while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember?
Transliteration
Wa hajjahu qawmuhu qala atu hajjunni fi-allahi wa qad hadani wa la akhfu ma tushrikuna bihi illa an yasha'a rabbi shay'an wa si'a rabbi kulla shay'in 'ilman a fa la tatadhakarrun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah depicts Prophet Ibrahim's response to his people's argumentation against his rejection of idolatry and affirmation of monotheism. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Ibrahim boldly challenges them: how can they dispute with him about Allah when Allah has already guided him to the truth? His statement 'I fear not what you associate with Him' expresses his absolute trust in Allah's protection, qualified by the phrase 'unless my Lord wills something'—demonstrating that even his safety is ultimately in Allah's hands. The closing phrase 'Your Lord encompasses all things in knowledge' reinforces that nothing escapes Allah's awareness, appealing to reason and inviting reflection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism and refutation of polytheism. The context describes Ibrahim's intellectual and spiritual struggle against his idolatrous community, serving as encouragement to the Prophet Muhammad and believers facing similar opposition to Islamic teachings in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The general theme relates to hadiths on standing firm in faith against opposition. For example, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet said, 'The strongest among you in faith are those who are kindest to their families,' and various hadiths emphasizing tawakkul (reliance on Allah) such as those in Jami' at-Tirmidhi on complete trust in Allah's decree.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should anchor their faith in Allah's guidance rather than seek validation from those who reject truth, and should cultivate such certainty in their relationship with Allah that fear of human opposition becomes insignificant. This ayah teaches that intellectual conviction combined with spiritual trust creates a fortress against doubt and social pressure.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Say, "Is it other than Allāh I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ."
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَدْوًۢا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
And do not insult those they invoke other than Allāh, lest they insult Allāh in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return, and He will inform them about what they used to do.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُوَلِّى بَعْضَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَعْضًۢا بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
And thus will We make some of the wrongdoers allies of others for what they used to earn.
وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُّصَدِّقُ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلِتُنذِرَ أُمَّ ٱلْقُرَىٰ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۖ وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And this is a Book which We have sent down, blessed and confirming what was before it, that you may warn the Mother of Cities [i.e., Makkah] and those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are maintaining their prayers.