Tafseer of The Prophets · Al-Anbiyaa · 21:73
And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
And His word وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا — Allah, exalted is His remembrance, says: We made Ibrāhīm, Isḥāq, and Yaʿqūb leaders (aʾimma) who are followed in goodness, in obedience to Allah, in following His command and His prohibition, and who are taken as an example and followed therein.
As Bashr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا: Allah made them leaders who are followed in the command of Allah.
And His word يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا — He says: they guide the people by Allah's command to them to do so, and they call them to Allah and to His worship.
And His word وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ — Allah, exalted is His remembrance, says: We revealed to them, among what We revealed, that they should perform good deeds, and that they should maintain the ritual prayer (ṣalāh) by Our command to do so.
وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ — He says: they were humble before Us, not arrogant in their obedience to Us and their worship of Us.
