and this is His statement: “And Abraham enjoined this upon his sons” (al-Baqarah 132).

Ibn Zayd said: It means His statement: “I have submitted myself to the Lord of all worlds” (al-Baqarah 131). He also recited: “He has named you Muslims” (al-Hajj 78).

“So that they may return”: so that the people of Mecca might follow this religion and turn away from what they were upon to the religion of Abraham. Al-Suddi said: So that they might repent and return to obedience to Allah.

“Rather, I gave enjoyment to these people and their fathers until the truth came to them and a clear Messenger. (29) Yet when the truth came to them, they said, ‘This is magic, and we disbelieve in it.’ (30) And they said, ‘Why was this Quran not sent down upon a great man from one of the two towns?’ (31) Is it they who apportion the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world, and raised some of them above others in rank, so that some may employ others in service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than what they amass. (32) Were it not that mankind would become one community, We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful roofs of silver for their houses, and stairways upon which they ascend. (33)”