وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا 125
Translations
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend.
Transliteration
Wa man ahsan deenan mimman aslama wajhahu lillahi wa huwa muhsin wattaba'a millata ibrahima hanifan wa ittakhaza allahu ibrahima khalilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the highest standard of religion as complete submission to Allah with sincere intention and righteous deeds, exemplified by following the monotheistic path (hanifiyyah) of Prophet Ibrahim. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that "aslama wajhahu" (submitting one's face) represents total dedication of oneself to Allah's will, while "muhsin" (doing good) indicates that intention must be accompanied by righteous actions. The ayah concludes by highlighting Allah's special honor to Ibrahim through the title "khalil" (intimate friend), establishing him as the model of perfect faith.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina, this ayah appears in the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of religious principles and the People of the Book. It addresses disputes about faith and practice, affirming that the true measure of religion transcends mere lineage or tribal affiliation—a crucial message for the diverse Medinan community. The reference to Ibrahim establishes continuity between Islamic teachings and the earlier prophetic tradition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most perfect in faith among believers is the one whose character is best' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Qur'an states in 2:130 that only the foolish reject Ibrahim's way, reinforcing this ayah's emphasis on following his monotheistic path.
Themes
Key Lesson
True faith requires both internal submission (sincere intention) and external manifestation (righteous conduct); believers should aspire to embody the balanced spirituality of Prophet Ibrahim by combining unwavering monotheism with excellent character and moral behavior in all dealings.
Related Ayahs
وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ أَن تَمِيلُوا۟ مَيْلًا عَظِيمًا
Allāh wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation.
وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأْتِيَـٰنِهَا مِنكُمْ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَا ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصْلَحَا فَأَعْرِضُوا۟ عَنْهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا
And the two who commit it [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] among you - punish [i.e., dishonor] them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allāh is ever Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ نَصِيبًا مِّنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ يَشْتَرُونَ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن تَضِلُّوا۟ ٱلسَّبِيلَ
Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, purchasing error [in exchange for it] and wishing you would lose the way?
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.