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
ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَـٰسِبِينَ
Then they [i.e., His servants] are returned to Allāh, their true Lord. Unquestionably, His is the judgement, and He is the swiftest of accountants.
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."
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.
وَأَنْ أَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّقُوهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And to establish prayer and fear Him." And it is He to whom you will be gathered.