ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ 123
Translations
Then We revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allāh.
Transliteration
Thumma awhayna ilayka ani ttabi' millata Ibrahima hanifan wa ma kana mina al-mushrikeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to follow the monotheistic religion and way of life established by Prophet Ibrahim, rejecting polytheism and shirk. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this ayah affirms the continuity of the Abrahamic faith throughout the prophetic tradition, with Ibrahim being a model of pure monotheism (hanif). Al-Tabari notes that the instruction to follow Ibrahim's millah (religion/way) encompasses both belief and practice, establishing Islam as the restoration of the original monotheistic path.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah An-Nahl, which addresses the fundamental principles of tawhid (monotheism) and refutation of idolatry. It comes as part of Allah's directive to the Prophet after mentioning various prophets and their messages, emphasizing that the message of all prophets converges on the absolute oneness of Allah and rejection of partners with Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I have been commanded to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the upright (hanif)' - related thematically in various hadith collections. Also relevant: 'The best of religions before Allah is the religion of Ibrahim' - a principle affirmed in multiple Islamic sources.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that true faith requires following the established path of prophetic monotheism, not innovating in religion or adopting practices of polytheism. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of returning to authentic Islamic principles rooted in the teachings of the great prophets, particularly Ibrahim, as the foundation for spiritual guidance.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِۦ وَنُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْنَا ٱلْمَصِيرُ
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death, and to Us is the destination
أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
Do you not know that Allāh knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed that, for Allāh, is easy.
أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ ۗ أَءِلَـٰهٌ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ تَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allāh? High is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِنِعْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ لِيُرِيَكُم مِّنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ
Do you not see that ships sail through the sea by the favor of Allāh that He may show you of His signs? Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.