وَفَدَيْنَـٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ 107
Translations
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,
Transliteration
Wa fadaynahu bi dhibhin adheem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's redemption of Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) from sacrifice by replacing him with a great ram. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that Allah substituted a magnificent sacrifice in place of Ismail, fulfilling His promise to Abraham and demonstrating His mercy and wisdom. This act became a symbol of obedience to Allah and established the foundation for the ritual of animal sacrifice ('Qurbani') during Hajj and Eid al-Adha.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah As-Saffat's narrative of Prophet Abraham's trial (37:102-107), where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son. The surah, revealed in Mecca, presents this as one of Islam's greatest tests of faith and obedience. The context emphasizes Abraham's unwavering submission to Allah's command and Allah's merciful intervention at the critical moment.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (2307): 'The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'The best of days is the day of An-Nahr (slaughter).' Related thematically: Muslim (1218) narrates Abdullah ibn Umar's account of the Prophet's practice of animal sacrifice, which stems from this Quranic precedent.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true obedience to Allah brings divine mercy and deliverance, and that Allah never burdens us beyond our capacity—He provides alternatives and relief. For believers, it exemplifies how sincere intention and submission, coupled with patience during trials, result in Allah's favor and establish lasting legacies of worship.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنفُسَكُم بِٱتِّخَاذِكُمُ ٱلْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ عِندَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by your taking of the calf [for worship]. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves [i.e., the guilty among you]. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.