وَمِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ وَإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ ۖ وَٱجْتَبَيْنَـٰهُمْ وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 87
Translations
And [some] among their fathers and their descendants and their brothers - and We chose them and We guided them to a straight path.
Transliteration
Wa min aba'ihim wa dhurriyyatihim wa ikhwanihim wajtabaynāhum wa hadaynāhum ilā sirātin mustaqīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's guidance extended not only to the prophets and righteous servants mentioned earlier in Surah Al-An'am, but also to their forefathers, offspring, and brothers—indicating that divine guidance encompasses entire righteous lineages. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the phrase 'we chose them and guided them to a straight path' (wajtabaynāhum wa hadaynāhum) emphasizes that Allah's selection and guidance is an act of divine grace bestowed upon these families, demonstrating that righteousness and steadfastness can run through generations when they remain committed to Allah's path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am's discussion of the prophets and righteous servants whom Allah chose and guided. The broader thematic context emphasizes the continuity of Allah's message through prophetic lineages and the blessing of guidance extended to entire families of believers, reinforcing the concept that prophethood and righteousness are divine favors.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those with the best character' (Sahih Bukhari 3331), relating to the virtue of the guided righteous. Additionally, the hadith 'When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that benefits, or a righteous child who prays for him' (Sahih Muslim 1631) reflects the concept of righteous progeny mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that righteousness is not merely an individual endeavor but ideally flows through families and communities, and that we should pray for our descendants to remain upon the straight path as the righteous forefathers did. It also teaches that guidance is ultimately Allah's grace—something to be grateful for and protected through commitment to faith and moral conduct.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَلَوْ أَنَّنَا نَزَّلْنَآ إِلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَحَشَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ قُبُلًا مَّا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ
And even if We had sent down to them the angels [with the message] and the dead spoke to them [of it] and We gathered together every [created] thing in front of them, they would not believe unless Allāh should will. But most of them, [of that], are ignorant.
وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٰطِى مُسْتَقِيمًا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.
فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَٰبَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓا۟ أَخَذْنَـٰهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ
So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.