“Then, when they had both submitted”—that is, Abraham and his son Ishmael—Abraham was firmly resolved to sacrifice his son, the fruit of his heart, in obedience to his Lord’s command and out of fear of His punishment. The son had steeled himself to remain patient, and counted his own life as insignificant in obedience to his Lord and in seeking his father’s pleasure. “And he laid him down upon his forehead”; that is, Abraham laid Ishmael face down upon his forehead in preparation to sacrifice him, so that he would not see his face at the moment of slaughter.
“And We called out to him” amid that distressing and astonishing situation: “O Abraham, you have fulfilled it.” That is: You have done what you were commanded, for you resolved yourself to do it and took every necessary step; nothing remained except to draw the knife across his throat. “Indeed, this is how We reward those who excel” in worshiping Us and who place Our pleasure before their own desires.
“Indeed, this”—the trial with which We tested Abraham (peace be upon him)—“was surely the manifest trial”; that is, the evident trial through which Abraham’s sincerity, his perfect love for his Lord, and his intimate friendship with Him became clear. When Allah granted Ishmael (peace be upon him) to Abraham, he loved him intensely. Yet Abraham was the intimate friend of the Most Merciful, and intimate friendship is the highest form of love. It is a rank that admits no sharing and requires every part of the heart to be attached to the beloved. When one part of his heart became attached to his son Ishmael, Allah Most High willed to purify his love and test his intimate friendship. He therefore commanded him to sacrifice the one whose love competed with his love for his Lord. When Abraham placed his love for Allah first, preferred it to his own desire, and resolved to sacrifice his son, that competing attachment was removed from his heart. The actual sacrifice then served no further purpose. Hence He said: “Indeed, this was surely the manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.” That is, he was replaced by a great sacrificial animal from among the sheep, which Abraham slaughtered. It was momentous because it served as Ishmael’s ransom, because it was one of the great acts of worship, and because it became an offering and an established practice until the Day of Resurrection.
“And We left for him among later generations: ‘Peace be upon Abraham.’” That is, We preserved for him sincere praise among later generations, just as he had enjoyed among the earlier ones. Thus, in every age after Abraham (peace be upon him), he has been loved, honored, and praised.
“Peace be upon Abraham.” That is, this is his salutation, as in His words: “Say, ‘Praise be to Allah, and peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen.’”
“Indeed, this is how We reward those who excel” in worshiping Allah and in dealing with His creation: We deliver them from hardships and grant them a favorable end and an honorable reputation.
“Indeed, he was one of Our believing servants”—those who believe in everything Allah has commanded them to believe, and whose faith has brought them to the degree of certainty. As Allah Most High says: “Thus We showed Abraham the dominion of the heavens and the earth, so that he might be among those possessing certainty.”
“And We gave him glad tidings of Isaac, a prophet from among the righteous.” This was the second glad tiding of Isaac, after whom Jacob would come. Abraham was thus given multiple glad tidings: of Isaac’s birth and survival, of the existence of his descendants, and of his becoming a prophet from among the righteous.