يَـٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيْطَـٰنِ وَلِيًّا 45
Translations
O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]."
Transliteration
Yā abati innī akhāfu an yamassakа 'adhābun min ar-raḥmān fatakūna lish-shaytāni waliyyā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This verse records Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) plea to his father, expressing his fear that Allah's punishment will befall him if he continues in idolatry, which would make him a friend and ally of Shaytan. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Ibrahim's concern demonstrates profound compassion mixed with spiritual wisdom—he recognizes that rejecting divine truth inevitably leads to Shaytan's dominion. The phrase 'waliyyā' (ally/protector) emphasizes that those who turn away from Allah's guidance place themselves under Shaytan's guardianship and influence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah Maryam depicting Ibrahim's dialogue with his polytheistic father (Āzar), a pivotal moment illustrating the spiritual struggle between monotheism and idolatry. The broader context of this Meccan surah emphasizes patience in preaching tawhīd (divine oneness) and the compassion shown by righteous messengers toward their families, despite their rejection of truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari narrated by Abu Hurairah describes the Prophet Muhammad's similar concern for his uncle Abu Talib, showing the Islamic emphasis on advising family members toward guidance. Additionally, the Quranic principle in 26:214 ('Warn thy nearest kindred') reflects the same theme of prioritizing family in the call to Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to approach their loved ones with wisdom and sincere concern when inviting them toward faith, combining firmness in truth with gentleness in delivery. It also reminds us that accepting falsehood, no matter how culturally normalized, places us under Shaytan's influence and exposes us to Allah's punishment.
Related Ayahs
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِن ذُرِّيَّةِ ءَادَمَ وَمِمَّنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّةِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ وَمِمَّنْ هَدَيْنَا وَٱجْتَبَيْنَآ ۚ إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ خَرُّوا۟ سُجَّدًا وَبُكِيًّا ۩
Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.
فَٱتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَآ إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا
And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [i.e., Gabriel], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَىَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْـًٔا
[An angel] said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.'"
رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فَٱعْبُدْهُ وَٱصْطَبِرْ لِعِبَـٰدَتِهِۦ ۚ هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُۥ سَمِيًّا
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them - so worship Him and have patience for His worship. Do you know of any similarity to Him?"