يَـٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَـٰذَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ ءَاتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ 76
Translations
[The angels said], "O Abraham, give up this [plea]. Indeed, the command of your Lord has come, and indeed, there will reach them a punishment that cannot be repelled."
Transliteration
Yā Ibrāhīmu aʿrid ʿan hādhā innahu qad jāʾa amru rabbika wa-innahu ʾātīhim ʿadhābun ghayru mardūd
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands Prophet Ibrahim to stop interceding for the people of Lot, as the divine decree against them has already been issued and cannot be averted. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this ayah demonstrates that even the intercession of the greatest prophets has limits when Allah's judgment has been finalized. The phrase 'ʿadhābun ghayru mardūd' (punishment that cannot be repelled) emphasizes the certainty and inevitability of the torment that awaits those who persist in grave sin.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Ibrahim's dialogue with the angels who came to destroy the people of Lot (Liwat). Ibrahim had been pleading with Allah to spare the inhabitants of that city, but this verse marks the point where he is commanded to cease his supplication, as Allah's decision is irreversible. The context shows Ibrahim's compassion tempered by submission to divine will.
Related Hadiths
The story of Ibrahim's intercession relates to the general principle in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the limits of intercession on the Day of Judgment. Additionally, Surah Al-Anʿam 6:51 emphasizes that sincere warning is the duty of believers, though the ultimate acceptance rests with Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that while supplication and intercession for others are noble acts, we must ultimately accept Allah's divine wisdom and justice. It reminds us that when clear signs are rejected and grave sins are committed, there comes a point where mercy gives way to accountability, encouraging us to focus on our own spiritual rectitude and sincere guidance of others.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَآءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allāh any protectors; then you would not be helped.
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَـٰلِحًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ
So when Our command came, We saved Ṣāliḥ and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.
وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا شُعَيْبًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْحَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دِيَـٰرِهِمْ جَـٰثِمِينَ
And when Our command came, We saved Shuʿayb and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us. And the shriek seized those who had wronged, and they became within their homes [corpses] fallen prone
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."