Canaan. The meaning of testing is trial, examination, and command. Allah’s testing of His servants is not so that He may learn their condition through testing, for He already knows them; rather, it is so that the servants may know their own states, and so that some of them may recognize others.

They differed regarding the words by which Allah tested Abraham, peace be upon him. Ikrimah and Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: They were thirty, which He called the laws of Islam. No one was tested with them and fulfilled them all except Abraham; thus, he was granted absolution. Allah Most High said: “And Abraham, who fulfilled” (53:37). Ten are found in Surah Bara’ah: “The repentant, the worshippers...” to its end; ten in Surah al-Ahzab: “Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women...”; and ten in Surah al-Mu’minun, in His words: “Certainly, the believers have succeeded”—the verses—and in His words, “except those who pray,” in Surah A Questioner Asked. (1)

Tawus related from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: Allah tested him with ten matters, namely the practices of the innate disposition: five pertaining to the head—trimming the moustache, rinsing the mouth, sniffing water into the nose, using the tooth-stick, and parting the hair; and five pertaining to the body—clipping the nails, plucking the armpit hair, shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, and cleansing oneself with water after relieving oneself. (2)

It is related: “Abraham, peace be upon him, was the first to trim the moustache, the first to be circumcised, the first to clip the nails, and the first to see grey hair. When he saw it, he said, ‘My Lord, what is this?’ He said, ‘A mark of dignity.’ (3) He said, ‘My Lord, increase me in dignity.’” (4)

Mujahid said: They are the verses that follow, in His words, exalted is He: “Indeed, I will make you a leader for mankind” (2:124), through to the end of the account. Al-Rabi‘ and Qatadah said: They were the rites of Hajj. Al-Hasan said: Allah tested him with seven matters: the stars, the moon, and the sun—over which he reflected soundly and thereby knew that his Lord is everlasting and does not pass away; the fire, which he endured patiently; migration; the sacrifice of his son; and circumcision, which he likewise endured patiently.

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: They are the words of Abraham and Ishmael as they raised the House: “Our Lord, accept this from us” (2:127)—the verse. They raised it with the words: “Glory be to Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is greatest.” (5) Yaman ibn Rabab said: They are his disputation with his people. Allah Most High said: “And his people argued with him,” up to His words: “That is Our argument which We gave to Abraham” (6:83). It was also said that they are his words: “He who created me, and He guides me” (26:78), through to the end of the verses.

Regarding His words, “which he fulfilled,” Qatadah said: He carried them out. Al-Dahhak said: He undertook them. Nu‘man said: He acted upon them. (6) Allah Most High said: “Indeed, I will make you a leader for mankind”—one to be followed in goodness. Abraham said,