Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (451)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(120–123) “Indeed, Abraham was a leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, wholly devoted to Him, and was not one of the polytheists * grateful for His blessings. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path * We granted him goodness in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous * Then We revealed to you: Follow the religion of Abraham, wholly devoted to Allah; he was not one of the polytheists.”

Allah Most High informs us of the distinction He bestowed upon His intimate friend Abraham (peace be upon him), and the lofty virtues and perfect merits with which He specially favored him. He says:

“Indeed, Abraham was a leader”—that is, a leader who embodied every quality of goodness, rightly guided himself and guiding others. “Devoutly obedient to Allah”—that is, constant in obedience to his Lord and sincere in his devotion to Him. “Wholly devoted to Him”—turning to Allah with love, repentance, and worship, while turning away from all besides Him. “And was not one of the polytheists” in his words, deeds, or any aspect of his life, for he was the leader of the upright monotheists.

“Grateful for His blessings”—that is, Allah granted him goodness in this world and bestowed upon him blessings both outward ⦗452⦘ and inward, and he duly gave thanks for them. As a result of these excellent qualities, “Allah chose him”: his Lord singled him out for His intimate friendship and made him one of the elect of His creation and among the finest of His servants brought near to Him.

“And guided him to a straight path” in both his knowledge and his deeds, so that he knew the truth and preferred it over all else.

“We granted him goodness in this world”: abundant provision, a beautiful wife, righteous offspring, and pleasing character. “And in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous,” who will enjoy lofty stations and immense nearness to Allah Most High.

One of his greatest virtues is that Allah revealed to the master and most perfect of creation that he should follow the religion of Abraham, and that both he and his community should take Abraham as their example.

﴿١٢٠ - ١٢٣﴾ ﴿إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ * شَاكِرًا لأنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ * وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ * ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾ . يخبر تعالى عما فضل به خليله إبراهيم ﵊، وخصه به من الفضائل العالية والمناقب الكاملة فقال: ﴿إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً﴾ أي: إماما جامعا لخصال الخير هاديا مهتديا. ﴿قَانِتًا لِلَّهِ﴾ أي: مديما لطاعة ربه مخلصا له الدين، ﴿حَنِيفًا﴾ مقبلا على الله بالمحبة، والإنابة والعبودية معرضا عمن سواه. ﴿وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾ في قوله وعمله، وجميع أحواله لأنه إمام الموحدين الحنفاء. ﴿شَاكِرًا لأنْعُمِهِ﴾ أي: آتاه الله في الدنيا حسنة، وأنعم عليه بنعم ظاهرة ⦗٤٥٢⦘ وباطنة، فقام بشكرها، فكان نتيجة هذه الخصال الفاضلة أن ﴿اجْتَبَاهُ﴾ ربه واختصه بخلته وجعله من صفوة خلقه، وخيار عباده المقربين. ﴿وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ﴾ في علمه وعمله فعلم بالحق وآثره على غيره. ﴿وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً﴾ رزقا واسعا، وزوجة حسناء، وذرية صالحين، وأخلاقا مرضية ﴿وَإِنَّهُ فِي الآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ﴾ الذين لهم المنازل العالية والقرب العظيم من الله تعالى. ومن أعظم فضائله أن الله أوحى لسيد الخلق وأكملهم أن يتبع ملة إبراهيم، ويقتدي به هو وأمته.