ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَنِى فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ 78
Translations
Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me.
Transliteration
Alladhee khalaqanee fahuwwa yahdeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is part of Prophet Ibrahim's declaration of faith, where he affirms that Allah alone is his Creator and Guide. Ibn Kathir explains that Ibrahim is rejecting idolatry and asserting that only the One who created him deserves worship and can provide true guidance. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this statement encompasses both the physical creation of Ibrahim and the spiritual guidance (hidayah) that Allah grants to His servants.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan chapter that recounts stories of earlier prophets. The context is Ibrahim's rejection of his people's idolatry and his declaration of pure monotheism to his father and community. It reflects the theme of the surah which presents prophets calling their people away from false gods toward the worship of Allah alone.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'There is no newborn but is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah), then his parents make him a Jew, Christian, or Zoroastrian.' (Sahih Bukhari 1319) - This relates to how guidance is a gift from Allah, as Ibrahim affirms here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true guidance comes only from recognizing Allah as the sole Creator and submitting to His will. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance directly from Allah rather than from false ideologies or idols of the contemporary world.
Related Ayahs
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise."
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـٰكِفُونَ
When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
That is because Allāh is the True Reality, and that what they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allāh is the Most High, the Grand.
أَمِ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ ءَالِهَةً ۖ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ ۖ هَـٰذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِىَ وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِى ۗ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ فَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
Or have they taken gods besides Him? Say, [O Muḥammad], "Produce your proof. This [Qur’ān] is the message for those with me and the message of those before me." But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.