and Sa‘id ibn Jubayr recited: wa-min ‘indihi (and from Him), with a kasrah on the mim and dal; and ‘ulima al-kitābu (the Book was taught), in the passive voice. (1) Evidence for this recitation is Allah’s saying: “And We taught him knowledge from Our own Presence” (al-Kahf, 65), and His saying: “The Most Merciful taught the Quran” (al-Rahman, 1–2).
Surah Ibrahim
Meccan, consisting of [fifty-one] (2) verses, except for two verses, from Allah’s saying, “Have you not considered those who exchanged Allah’s blessing for disbelief,” up to His saying, “Indeed, your destination is the Fire.” (3)
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
“Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], so that you may bring people out of darkness into light, by their Lord’s permission, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.” (1)
“Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book,” that is, this is a Book “which We have revealed to you,” O Muhammad—meaning, the Quran—“so that you may bring people out of darkness into light,” that is, so that you may call them from the darknesses of misguidance to the light of faith. (4) “By their Lord’s permission,” that is, by their Lord’s command. (5)
It has also been said: by their Lord’s knowledge. (6)
(1) Al-Tabari said: “A report from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, has been narrated confirming this recitation and interpretation, although its chain of transmission requires scrutiny.” He then cited a hadith with a disconnected chain. See Tafsir al-Tabari, 16:506. Al-Haythami said of it: “Abu Yala transmitted it, but it contains Sulayman ibn Arqam, who is abandoned [as a narrator].” See Majma al-Zawaid, 7:155.
(2) The text within the brackets is omitted in manuscript “A.”
(3) Al-Nahhas related in his History, from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that Surah Ibrahim was revealed in Mecca, except for two verses: “Have you not considered those ...,” which were revealed concerning the polytheists slain at Badr. Ibn Mardawayh also related from Ibn Abbas and al-Zubayr that Surah Ibrahim was revealed in Mecca. Ibn al-Jawzi said: “It is Meccan, with no disagreement known among them, except for what was narrated from Ibn Abbas and Qatada.” See al-Durr al-Manthur, 5:3; al-Muharrar al-Wajiz, 8:192; al-Bahr al-Muhit, 5:403; Zad al-Masir, 4:343.
(4) See al-Tabari, 16:511-512.
(5) The text within the brackets is omitted in manuscript “B.”
(6) Abu Jafar al-Tabari said in his Tafsir, 16:512: “Allah, exalted is His mention, attributed the bringing of people out of darkness into light, by their Lord’s permission, to His Prophet, peace be upon him. Yet He is the One who guides His creation and grants success in faith to whomever among them He loves, since the Prophet’s role was to call them to it and make known to them what it entails for and against them. Thus, He demonstrated the soundness of the view of the ahl al-ithbat (those who affirm divine decree), who attribute the servants’ deeds to the servants as kasb (acquisition), and to Allah, mighty and exalted, as creation and governance; and the falsity of the view of the Qadariyya, who deny that Allah has any agency in this.”