The Most High says:
“O People of the Scripture! Why do you dispute about Abraham when the Torah and the Gospel were only sent down after him? Will you not, then, use your reason? (65)
You have already argued about matters of which you have some knowledge; why, then, do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows, whereas you do not know. (66)
Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; rather, he was upright, wholly devoted to Allah, a Muslim, and he was not of the idolaters. (67)
Indeed, those who have the strongest claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe; and Allah is the Protector of the believers.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:65–68)
Here, Allah rebukes the People of the Book—both Jews and Christians—for each group’s assertion that the Friend of the Compassionate belonged to its faith. Allah declares him innocent of their claims and exposes the depth of their ignorance and feeble reasoning with His words: “the Torah and the Gospel were only sent down after him” (3:65). How, then, could he have followed a law that was revealed long after his time? Hence the divine reproach: “Will you not, then, use your reason?”
He continues: “Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; rather, he was upright, submitting to Allah, and he was not of the idolaters” (3:67), making it clear that Abraham practiced Allah’s ḥanīf religion—turning deliberately away from falsehood toward truth, in direct opposition to Judaism, Christianity, and paganism alike.
The Exalted likewise says:
“Who would turn away from Abraham’s creed except one who befools himself? We indeed chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be among the righteous. (130)
When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he replied, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds.’ (131)
Abraham enjoined the same upon his sons, and so did Jacob: ‘My sons! Allah has chosen this religion for you; so do not die except in a state of Islam.’ (132)
Were you present when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’ They answered, ‘We shall worship your God and the God of your forefathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—One God, and to Him we submit.’ (133)
That community has passed away; theirs is what they earned and yours is what you earn, and you will not be asked about what they used to do. (134)
They say, ‘Be Jews or Christians and you will be guided.’ Say, ‘Rather, the creed of Abraham, who was upright, and he was not of the polytheists.’ (135)
Say, ‘We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’ (136)
If they believe in what you believe in, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, then they are merely in schism, and Allah will suffice you against them, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. (137)
[Our] dye is Allah’s dye—and who is better than Allah at dyeing? It is Him that we worship. (138)
Say, ‘Do you dispute with us about Allah, while He is our Lord and your Lord? Our deeds are ours and your deeds are yours, and we are devoted to Him alone. (139)
Or do you claim that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ Say, ‘Do you know better, or does Allah? Who could be more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not heedless of what you do.’ (140)
That community has passed away; theirs is what they earned and yours is what you earn, and you will not be asked about what they used to do.” (al-Baqarah 2:130–141)
Thus the Almighty declares His Friend far above being a Jew or a Christian, affirming that he was ḥanīf, a Muslim, and not among the idolaters. Therefore He says: “Indeed, those who have the strongest claim to Abraham are those who followed him” (3:68)—that is, those who were upon his creed in his own time and everyone who has held fast to it thereafter—“and this Prophet” (3:68), meaning Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him). For Allah legislated for him the same lofty religion that He had legislated for Abraham, perfected it for him, and granted him what He had granted no prophet or messenger before him.
The Exalted says:
“Say, ‘Indeed my Lord has guided me to a straight path—a right religion—the creed of Abraham, who was upright, and he was not of the polytheists. (161)
Say, ‘Indeed my prayer, my rites, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of all worlds. (162)
He has no partner. Thus I am commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.’” (al-Anʿām 6:161–163)
He also says: “Indeed Abraham was a community unto himself, devoutly obedient to Allah, upright, and he was not of the polytheists; (120) grateful for His favors…”