Ibrahim's Devotion to Tawheed and His Role as a Model for Islamic Monotheism

An-Nahl — Verses 120–123 | Explore this Quran theme on Muallim

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ١٢٠

Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation, obedient to Allah, Hanifa (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who joined partners with Allah).

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham)
كَانَ أُمَّةً
was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation,
قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ
obedient to Allah,
حَنِيفًا
Hanifa (i.e. to worship none but Allah),
وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who joined partners with Allah).

شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ ۚ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ١٢١

(He was) thankful for His (Allah's) Graces. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path (Islamic Monotheism, neither Judaism nor Christianity).

شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ ۚ
(He was) thankful for His (Allah's) Graces.
اجْتَبَاهُ
He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend)
وَهَدَاهُ
and guided him
إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
to a Straight Path (Islamic Monotheism, neither Judaism nor Christianity).

وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ١٢٢

And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.

وَآتَيْنَاهُ
And We gave him
فِي الدُّنْيَا
good in this world,
حَسَنَةً ۖ
and in the Hereafter
وَإِنَّهُ فِي
he shall be of the righteous.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ١٢٣

Then, We have inspired you (O Muhammad SAW saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham) Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah) and he was not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers, etc.).

ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ
Then, We have inspired you (O Muhammad SAW)
أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
saying: 'Follow the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham)'
حَنِيفًا ۖ
Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah)
وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
and he was not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers, etc.)