وَقَالُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 135
Translations
They say, "Be Jews or Christians [so] you will be guided." Say, "Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists."
Transliteration
Wa qāloo koonoo hūdan aw nasārā tahtadoo. Qul bal millata Ibrāhīma hanīfan wa mā kāna mina al-mushrikīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
The Jews and Christians claim that following their respective religions is the path to guidance, but Allah commands the Prophet to reject this claim and instead call people to the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham), which was monotheistic submission to Allah alone. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Ibrahim's path predated both Judaism and Christianity, making it the original, pure monotheism (hanīf) that rejected all forms of polytheism and religious innovation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage addressing interfaith disputes in Medina, where the Muslim community interacted with Jewish and Christian communities. The context reflects the Prophet's interactions with these groups who attempted to convert Muslims to their faiths, prompting this clarification that Islam represents a return to the authentic Abrahamic monotheism rather than a new religion.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanif' (Sunan An-Nasa'i). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet emphasizes that he is closest to Ibrahim among all people.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true guidance lies in pure monotheism and sincere submission to Allah alone, not in following religious traditions merely because of ancestry or cultural inheritance; it calls believers to examine the roots of faith and distinguish between human innovations and divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ وَسَعَىٰ فِى خَرَابِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَآ إِلَّا خَآئِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allāh from being mentioned [i.e., praised] in His mosques and strive toward their destruction. It is not for them to enter them except in fear. For them in this world is disgrace, and they will have in the Hereafter a great punishment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ إِذْ يَرَوْنَ ٱلْعَذَابَ أَنَّ ٱلْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعَذَابِ
And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allāh as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allāh. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allāh. And if only they who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they will be certain] that all power belongs to Allāh and that Allāh is severe in punishment.
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا۟ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."