۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰٓ ءَادَمَ وَنُوحًا وَءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَءَالَ عِمْرَٰنَ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 33
Translations
Indeed, Allāh chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ʿImrān over the worlds -
Transliteration
Inna Allaha istafa Adam wa Nuhan wa ala Ibrahim wa ala Imrana ala al-alamin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has chosen Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran above all the worlds—meaning He selected them for prophethood, divine guidance, and noble lineage. This ayah emphasizes the divine selection and honor bestowed upon these chosen households, establishing a chain of prophetic succession and spiritual superiority. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this verse demonstrates Allah's wisdom in choosing the most righteous and worthy for His message, while also introducing the family of 'Imran (to which Maryam and 'Isa belong) as part of this honored lineage.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Ali 'Imran, which addresses both the People of the Book and the Muslim community. The context relates to discussions about the virtue of the Ahl al-Bayt (People of the Prophet's Household) and validates the prophetic mission by connecting Muhammad's lineage to the honored families of previous prophets, particularly relevant as the surah discusses 'Isa (Jesus) and his mother Maryam from the family of 'Imran.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Allah chose the children of Ismail from the children of Ibrahim, chose Quraysh from the children of Ismail, chose Hashim from Quraysh, and chose me from Bani Hashim' (Sahih Muslim 2276). Additionally, the hadith on the Ghadir emphasizes the virtue of the Ahl al-Bayt in preserving Islamic knowledge.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that closeness to Allah comes through righteousness and devotion to His cause, not through genealogy alone. It reminds believers that honor in Allah's sight is determined by piety and submission to His will, and that being part of a righteous family carries the responsibility to uphold and transmit divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
Those who disbelieve in the signs of Allāh and kill the prophets without right and kill those who order justice from among the people - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allāh - then indeed, Allāh loves those who fear Him.
إِذْ قَالَ ٱللَّهُ يَـٰعِيسَىٰٓ إِنِّى مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَىَّ وَمُطَهِّرُكَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَجَاعِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوكَ فَوْقَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
[Mention] when Allāh said, "O Jesus, indeed I will take you and raise you to Myself and purify [i.e., free] you from those who disbelieve and make those who follow you [in submission to Allāh alone] superior to those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then to Me is your return, and I will judge between you concerning that in which you used to differ.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ ٱلْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ ٱفْتَدَىٰ بِهِۦٓ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.