وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهَآ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ 83
Translations
And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing.
Transliteration
Wa tilka hujjatuna ataynaha Ibrahim ala qawmihi, narfa'u darajatin man nasha'u, inna rabbaka hakimun alimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the rational arguments and proofs (hujjah) that Allah granted to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to use against his people's idolatry and polytheism. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that Ibrahim's hujjah included his logical demonstrations of Allah's oneness and the futility of idol worship. The verse then affirms that Allah raises the degrees and ranks of whom He wills—a reminder that spiritual elevation comes from Allah's wisdom and knowledge, not merely from intellectual arguments alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-An'am's discussion of the prophets and their respective missions. It follows the mention of the prophets and precedes the listing of Ibrahim's descendants who inherited prophethood. The context emphasizes that true guidance involves both intellectual proof and divine guidance, establishing Ibrahim's argumentative approach as a model for calling people to Tawhid (monotheism).
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (37:83-84) states: 'Indeed, Ibrahim was among the righteous.' Additionally, Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim emphasizes Allah's knowledge and wisdom in guiding whom He wills, relating to the final clause of this ayah about Allah being Al-Hakim (The Wise) and Al-Alim (The All-Knowing).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are encouraged to use rational discourse and clear evidence when calling others to Allah, following Ibrahim's example, while simultaneously recognizing that ultimate guidance comes from Allah's wisdom. One's spiritual elevation depends not on eloquence alone but on Allah's decision, inspiring humility combined with diligent effort in da'wah (Islamic propagation).
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ مَلَكًا لَّجَعَلْنَـٰهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِم مَّا يَلْبِسُونَ
And if We had made him [i.e., the messenger] an angel, We would have made him [appear as] a man, and We would have covered them with that in which they cover themselves [i.e., confusion and doubt].
قُلْ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَامِلٌ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Say, "O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed."
بَلْ إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ فَيَكْشِفُ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ إِن شَآءَ وَتَنسَوْنَ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ
No, it is Him [alone] you would invoke, and He would remove that for which you invoked Him if He willed, and you would forget what you associate [with Him].
قُلْ إِنِّى عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ مَا عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰصِلِينَ
Say, "Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allāh. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders."