Tafseer of The Family of Imraan · Aal-i-Imraan · 3:68
Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers.
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.
The explanation of His word: إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (68) (Truly, the people who stand nearest to Ibrāhīm are those who have followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe. And Allah is the protector (walī) of the believers.) (3:68)
Abū Jaʿfar said: By His word — exalted be His praise — "Truly, the people who stand nearest to Ibrāhīm" He means: truly, the people who have the most right to Ibrāhīm, to standing by him, and to the covenant of allegiance with him (walāya), = "are those who have followed him," that is to say: those who walked his way and his path, and thus acknowledged Allah as One, devoting religion sincerely to Him, and made his manner of conduct (sunna) their custom, and accepted his legal ordinances as law, and who were for Allah upright in faith (ḥunafāʾ), Muslims, without ascribing partners to Him, = "and this Prophet," that is to say: Muḥammad ﷺ, = "and those who believe," that is to say: and those who held Muḥammad to be truthful, and that which he brought to them from Allah, = "and Allah is the protector of the believers," He says: and Allah is the helper of the believers through Muḥammad, who hold him to be truthful in his prophethood and in that which he brought to them from Him, against whoever opposes them among the adherents of the communities and religions.
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And in accordance with what we have said concerning this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
The mention of who said that:
7214 — Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: "Truly, the people who stand nearest to Ibrāhīm are those who have followed him," he says: those who followed him in his creed, his manner of conduct, his path, and his original natural disposition (fiṭra), = "and this Prophet," and that is the Prophet of Allah Muḥammad, = "and those who believe" with him, and they are the believers who held the Prophet of Allah to be truthful and followed him. Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and those who were with him among the believers, were the people who stood nearest to Ibrāhīm.
7215 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: Isḥāq related to us, saying: Ibn Abī Jaʿfar related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Rabīʿ, the like of it.
7216 — Muḥammad ibn al-Muthannā, Jābir ibn al-Kurdī, and al-Ḥasan ibn Abī Yaḥyā al-Maqdisī related to us, they said: Abū Aḥmad related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abū al-Ḍuḥā, on the authority of Masrūq, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, he said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Truly, every prophet has guardians (wulāt) among the prophets, and truly, my guardian among them is my father and the intimate friend (khalīl) of my Lord." Then he recited: "Truly, the people who stand nearest to Ibrāhīm are those who have followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe, and Allah is the protector of the believers."
7217 — Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Abū Nuʿaym al-Faḍl ibn Dukayn related to us, saying: Sufyān related to us, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abū al-Ḍuḥā, on the authority of ʿAbd Allāh — I think he said: from the Prophet ﷺ — and he mentioned something similar.
7218 — Al-Muthannā related to me, saying: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya ibn Ṣāliḥ related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās: Allah — glorified be He — says: "Truly, the people who stand nearest to Ibrāhīm are those who have followed him," and they are the believers.
