Tabari (1 passage)

1. Full Dutch translation of Tabari's text

   And His words: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"). He says: and when the boy of whom the glad tidings had been given to Ibrāhīm reached, together with Ibrāhīm, the age for labor — and that is the striving (al-saʿy) — and that was when he was able to help him in his work.

   And the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) differed over the meaning of that. Some of them said something along the lines of what we have said about it.

   * Mention of who said that:

   ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His words: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"), he says: the work.

   Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both of them — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His words: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"), he said: when he grew up so that his working reached the working of Ibrāhīm in labor.

   Al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, the same, except that he said: when he grew up until he reached his [capacity for] working.

   Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Ibn Abī ʿAdī related to us, on the authority of Shuʿba, on the authority of al-Ḥakam, on the authority of Mujāhid: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"), he said: the working of Ibrāhīm.

   Ibn al-Muthannā related to us, saying: Sahl ibn Yūsuf related to us, on the authority of Shuʿba, on the authority of al-Ḥakam, on the authority of Mujāhid: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"): the working of Ibrāhīm.

   Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His words: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"), he said: the striving (al-saʿy) here is religious devotion (al-ʿibāda).

   And others said: its meaning is: when he walked along with Ibrāhīm.

   * Mention of who said that:

   Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ("And when he reached with him the age of striving"): that is, when he walked along with his father.

   And His words: قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ("He said: O my little son, I see in the dream that I am slaughtering you"). The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: Ibrāhīm, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful, said to his son: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ("O my little son, I see in the dream that I am slaughtering you"). And as has been transmitted, Ibrāhīm had made a vow, when the angels had brought him the glad tidings of Isḥāq as a son, that — when Sāra would bear him — he would make him a sacrifice (dhabīḥ) for Allah. So when Isḥāq, together with his father, reached the age for labor, Ibrāhīm was shown in the dream, and it was said to him: "Fulfill your vow to Allah." And the dream of the prophets is certainty; therefore he carried out what he had seen in the dream, and his son Isḥāq said to him what he said.

   * Mention of who said that:

   Mūsā ibn Hārūn related to us, saying: ʿAmr ibn Ḥammād related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, he said: Jibrāʾīl said to Sāra: "Rejoice over a son whose name is Isḥāq, and after Isḥāq, Yaʿqūb." Then she struck her forehead in astonishment; that is His words فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا ("Then she struck her face") and قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَى أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ ("She said: Woe to me! Shall I bear a child when I am an old woman and this, my husband, is an old man? Verily, this is indeed something astonishing") up to His words حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ("Praiseworthy, Glorious"). Sāra said to Jibrīl: "What is the sign of that?" Then he took a dry branch in his hand and twirled it between his fingers, whereupon it began to quiver green. Then Ibrāhīm said: "Then he is a sacrifice for Allah." When Isḥāq grew up, Ibrāhīm was approached in his sleep, and it was said to him: "Fulfill your vow that you made; for Allah has granted you a boy through Sāra, [with the vow] that you would slaughter him." Then he said to Isḥāq: "Come along, let us bring an offering (qurbān) to Allah." And he took a knife and a rope, and then went along with him, until — when he had brought him among the mountains — the boy said to him: "O my father, where is your offering?" قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ("He said: O my little son, I see in the dream that I am slaughtering you, so look what you think. He said: O my father, do what you are commanded; you will find me, if Allah wills, among the patient ones"). Then Isḥāq said to him: "O my father, fasten my binding tightly, so that I do not struggle; keep your clothes away from me, so that none of my blood spatters on them, and Sāra sees it and becomes grieved; and pass the knife swiftly across my throat, so that death may be lighter for me. And when you come to Sāra, convey to her my greeting." Then Ibrāhīm turned toward him and kissed him, while he had already bound him, and he wept, and Isḥāq wept, until the tears collected beneath Isḥāq's cheek. Then he passed the knife across his throat, but the knife did not cut, for Allah had struck a plate of copper upon Isḥāq's throat. When he saw that, he struck it against his forehead, and made an incision at the back of his neck; that is His words فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا ("And when they both had submitted") — he says: they both surrendered the matter to Allah — وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ ("and he laid him down upon his forehead"). Then it was called out: "O Ibrāhīm, قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ("you have fulfilled the vision") in truth." Then he looked around, and behold, there was a ram; he took it and released his son, and bent over his son, kissed him and said: "Today, O my little son, you have been granted to me." Therefore Allah says: وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ ("And We ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice"). Then he returned to Sāra and informed her of the news, and Sāra became distraught and said: "O Ibrāhīm, did you want to slaughter my son without letting me know!"

   Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His words: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ("O my little son, I see in the dream that I am slaughtering you"), he said: the dream of the prophets is truth; when they saw something in the dream, they did it.

   Mujāhid ibn Mūsā related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Sufyān ibn ʿUyayna related to us, on the authority of ʿAmr ibn Dīnār, on the authority of ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, he said: the dream of the prophets is revelation (waḥy); then he recited this verse: إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ("I see in the dream that I am slaughtering you").

   His words: فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ("so look what you think"): the reciters (qurrāʾ) differed over the reading of His words مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ . Most of the reciters of the people of Medina and Basra, and some of the reciters of the people of Kufa, read it: فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ ("tarā") with fatḥa on the tāʾ, in the meaning: which matter do you command, or: look what you command. And most of the reciters of Kufa read that: "māḏā turā" with ḍamma on the tāʾ, in the meaning: what do you advise, and what [sign] of patience or distress at the slaughtering are you shown?

   And the more correct of the two readings in my view in this is the reading of the one who read it: مَاذَا تَرَى ("tarā") with fatḥa on the tāʾ, in the meaning: what is your opinion (raʾy)?

   And if someone were to say: "Did Ibrāhīm then consult his son in carrying out the command of Allah and in submitting to His obedience?", then it is answered: that was not on his part a consultation with his son in the obedience of Allah, but it was on his part so that he would know what his son possessed of resolve: whether he was among those who show patience at the command of Allah in the manner in which he [Ibrāhīm] did so, so that he might rejoice over that, or not; while he [himself] in all circumstances carried out the command of Allah.

   And His words: قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ("He said: O my father, do what you are commanded"). The Exalted, whose praise is exalted, says: Isḥāq said to his father: O my father, do what your Lord commands you regarding the slaughtering of me. سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ("You will find me, if Allah wills, among the patient ones") — he says: you will find me, if Allah wills, patient, among the patient ones at what our Lord commands us. And he said "do what you are commanded (mā tuʾmar)" and did not say "what you are commanded with it (mā tuʾmar bihi)", because the meaning is: do the command that you are commanded. And it has been transmitted that in the reading of ʿAbd Allāh [ibn Masʿūd] it reads: "I see in the dream: do what you have been commanded with it (umirta bihi)."

   Show original Arabic

   وقوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) يقول: فلما بلغ الغلام الذي بشر به إبراهيم مع إبراهيم العمل، وهو السعي، وذلك حين أطاق معونته على عمله. وقد اختلف أهل التأويل في معنى ذلك، فقال بعضهم نحو الذي قلنا فيه. * ذكر من قال ذلك: حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، قولهِ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) يقول: العمل. حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، في قوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: لما شبّ حتى أدرك سعيه سَعْي إبراهيمَ في العمل. حدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، مثله، إلا أنه قال: لما شبّ حين أدرك سعيه. حدثنا ابن المثنى، قال: ثنا ابن أبي عديّ، عن شعبة، عن الحكم، عن مجاهد ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: سَعي إبراهيم. حدثنا ابن المثنى، قال: ثنا سهل بن يوسف، عن شعبة، عن الحكم، عن مجاهد ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) : سَعي إبراهيم. حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال: قال ابن زيد، في قوله ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) قال: السَّعْيُ ها هنا العبادة. وقال آخرون: معنى ذلك: فلما مشى مع إبراهيم. * ذكر من قال ذلك: حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ ) : أي لما مشى مع أبيه. وقوله ( قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: قال إبراهيم خليل الرحمن لابنه: ( يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) وكان فيما ذكر أن إبراهيم نذر حين بشَّرته الملائكة بإسحاق ولدًا أن يجعله إذا ولدته سارَة لله ذبيحا; فلما بلغ إسحاقُ مع أبيه السَّعْي أرِي إبراهيم في المنام، فقيل له: أوف لله بنذرك، ورؤيا الأنبياء يقين، فلذلك مضى لما رأى في المنام، وقال له ابنه إسحاق ما قال. * ذكر من قال ذلك: حدثنا موسى بن هارون، قال: ثنا عمرو بن حماد، قال: ثنا أسباط، عن السديّ، قال: قال جبرائيل لسارَة: أبشري بولد اسمه إسحاق، ومن وراء إسحاق يعقوب، فضربت جبهتها عَجَبا، فذلك قوله فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا و قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَى أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ إلى قوله حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ قالت سارَة لجبريل: ما آية ذلك ؟ فأخذ بيده عودا يابسا، فلواه بين أصابعه، فاهتز أخضر، فقال إبراهيم: هو لله إذن ذَبيح; فلما كبر إسحاق أُتِيَ إبراهيمُ في النوم، فقيل له: أوف بنذرك الذي نَذَرْت، إن الله رزقك غلاما من سارَة أن تذبحه، فقال لإسحاق: انطلق نقرب قُرْبَانا إلى الله، وأخذ سكينا وحبلا ثم انطلق معه حتى إذا ذهب به بين الجبال قال له الغلام: يا أبت أين قُرْبانك؟( قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ) فقال له إسحاق: يا أبت أشدد رباطي حتى لا أضطرب، واكففْ عني ثيابك حتى لا ينتضح عليها من دمي شيء، فتراه سارَة فتحزن، وأَسْرِعْ مرّ السكين على حَلْقي؛ ليكون أهون للموت عليّ، فإذا أتيت سارَة فاقرأ عليها مني السلام; فأقبل عليه إبراهيم يقبله وقد ربطه وهو يبكي وإسحاق يبكي، حتى استنقع الدموع تحت خدّ إسحاق، ثم إنه جرّ السكين على حلقه، فلم تَحِكِ السكين، وضرب الله صفيحة من النحاس على حلق إسحاق; فلما رأى ذلك ضرب به على جبينه، وحزّ من قفاه، فذلك قوله فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا يقول: سلما لله الأمر وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ فنودي يا إبراهيم قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا بالحق فالتفت فإذا بكبش، فأخذه وخَلَّى عن ابنه، فأكبّ على ابنه يقبله، وهو يقول: اليوم يا بُنَيّ وُهِبْتَ لي; فلذلك يقول الله: وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ فرجع إلى سارَة فأخبرها الخبر، فجَزِعَت سارَة وقالت: يا إبراهيم أردت أن تذبح ابني ولا تُعْلِمني!. حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله ( يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ) قال: رؤيا الأنبياء حق إذا رأوا فى المنام شيئا فعلوه. حدثنا مجاهد بن موسى، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سفيان بن عيينة، عن عمرو بن دينار، عن عبيد بن عمير، قال: رؤيا الأنبياء وحي، ثم تلا هذه الآية: ( إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ ). قوله ( فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ) : اختلفت القرّاء في قراءة قوله ( مَاذَا تَرَى ؟ ) ، فقرأته عامة قرّاء أهل المدينة والبصرة، وبعض قراء أهل الكوفة: ( فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ؟) بفتح التاء، بمعنى: أي شيء تأمر، أو فانظر ما الذي تأمر، وقرأ ذلك عامة قراء الكوفة: " مَاذَا تُرَى " بضم التاء، بمعنى: ماذا تُشير، وماذا تُرَى من صبرك أو جزعك من الذبح؟. والذي هو أولى القراءتين في ذلك عندي بالصواب قراءة من قرأه: ( مَاذَا تَرَى ) بفتح التاء، بمعنى: ماذا ترى من الرأي. فإن قال قائل: أو كان إبراهيم يؤامر ابنه في المضيّ لأمر الله، والانتهاء إلى طاعته؟ قيل: لم يكن ذلك منه مشاورة لابنه في طاعة الله، ولكنه كان منه ليعلم ما عند ابنه من العَزْم: هل هو من الصبر على أمر الله على مثل الذي هو عليه، فيسر بذلك أم لا وهو في الأحوال كلها ماض لأمر الله. وقوله ( قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: قال إسحاق لأبيه: يا أبت افعل ما يأمرك به ربك من ذبحي.( سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ) يقول: ستجدني إن شاء الله صابرا من الصابرين لما يأمرنا به ربنا، وقال: (افعل ما تُؤْمَرُ، ولم يقل: ما تؤمر به، لأن المعنى: افعل الأمر الذي تؤمره، وذكر أن ذلك في قراءة عبد الله: " إني أرى في المنام: افعل ما أُمِرْت به ".