۞ وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٍۢ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًۭا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
Dan (ingatlah), ketika Ibrahim diuji Tuhannya dengan beberapa kalimat (perintah dan larangan), lalu Ibrahim menunaikannya. Allah berfirman: "Sesungguhnya Aku akan menjadikanmu imam bagi seluruh manusia". Ibrahim berkata: "(Dan saya mohon juga) dari keturunanku". Allah berfirman: "Janji-Ku (ini) tidak mengenai orang yang zalim".
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
Ibrahim Al-Khalil was an Imam for the People
Allah is informing us of the honor of Ibrahim Al-Khalil, who He made an Imam for the people, and a model to be imitated, because of the way he conducted himself and adhered to Tawhid. This honor was given to Prophet Ibrahim when he adhered to Allah's decisions and prohibitions. This is why Allah said,
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ
(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (i.e., Allah) tried him with (certain) commands).
This Ayah means, O Muhammad! Remind the idolators and the People of the Scriptures, who pretend to be followers of the religion of Ibrahim, while in reality they do not follow it, while you, O Muhammad, and your followers are the true followers of his religion; remind them of the commands and prohibitions that Allah tested Ibrahim with.
فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ
(which he fulfilled.) indicating that Ibrahim implemented all of Allah's orders. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى
(And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey)) (53:37)
meaning, he was truthful and he was obedient to Allah's legislation. Also, Allah said,
إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِراً لانْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَـهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, Hanif (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikin (polytheists), (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim Hanif (Islamic Monotheism ـ to worship none but Allah) and he was not of the Mushrikin.) (16:120-123)
قُلْ إِنَّنِى هَدَانِى رَبِّى إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Say (O Muhammad ): "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan, and Ibrahim (to worship none but Allah, alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin.") (6:161) and,
مَا كَانَ إِبْرَهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِىُّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَاللَّهُ وَلِىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism ـ to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin. Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad ) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers) (3:67-68).
Allah said,
بِكَلِمَـتِ
(with Kalimat (words)) which means, "Laws, commandments and prohibitions." `Words' as mentioned here, sometimes refers to what Allah has willed, such as Allah's statement about Maryam,
وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـتِ رَبَّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَـنِتِينَ
(And she testified to the truth of the Words of her Lord, and (also believed in) His Scriptures, and she was of the Qanitin (i.e. obedient to Allah)) (66:12).
"Words" also refers to Allah's Law, such as Allah's statement,
وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً
(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice) (6:115) meaning, His legislation. "Words" also means truthful news, or a just commandment or prohibition. For instance, Allah said,
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ
(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim tried him with (certain) Words (commands), which he fulfilled) meaning, he adhered to them, Allah said,
إِنِّى جَـعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا
("Verily, I am going to make you an Imam (a leader) for mankind (to follow you).") as a reward for Ibrahim's good deeds, adhering to the commandments and avoiding the prohibitions. This is why Allah made Ibrahim a role model for the people, and an Imam whose conduct and path are imitated and followed.
What were the Words that Ibrahim was tested with
There is a difference of opinion over the words that Allah tested Ibrahim with. There are several opinions attributed to Ibn `Abbas. For instance, `Abdur-Razzaq said that Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah tested him with the rituals (of Hajj)." Abu Ishaq reported the same. `Abdur-Razzaq also narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that,
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ
(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) (i.e., Allah) tried him with (certain) commands) means, "Allah tested him with Taharah (purity, ablution): five on the head and five on the body. As for the head, they are cutting the mustache, rinsing the mouth, inhaling and discarding water, using Siwak and parting the hair. As for the body, they are trimming the nails, shaving the pubic hair, circumcision and plucking under the arm and washing with water after answering the call of nature." Ibn Abi Hatim said, "A similar statement was also reported from Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, An-Nakha`i, Abu Salih, Abu Al-Jald, and so forth."
There is a similar statement that Imam Muslim narrated from `A'ishah who said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«عَشْرٌ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ: قَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَإِعْفَاءُ اللِّحْيَةِ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَاسْتِنْشَاقُ الْمَاءِ وَقَصُّ الْأَظْفَارِ وَغَسْلُ الْبَرَاجِمِ وَنَتْفُ الْإِبْطِ وَحَلْقُ الْعَانَةِ وَانْتِقَاصُ الْمَاءِ وَنَسِيتُ الْعَاشِرَةَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ الْمَضْمَضَة»
(Ten are among the Fitrah (instinct, natural constitution): trimming the mustache, growing the beard, using Siwak, inhaling and then exhaling water (in ablution), cutting the nails, washing between the fingers (in ablution), plucking the underarm hair, shaving the pubic hair, washing with water after answering the call of nature, (and I forgot the tenth, I think it was) rinsing the mouth (in ablution).)
The Two Sahihs recorded Abu Hurayrah saying that the Prophet said,
«الْفِطْرَةُ خَمْسٌ: الْخِتَانُ وَالْاسْتِحْدَادُ وَقَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ وَنَتْفُ الْإِبْط»
(Five are among the acts of Fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the mustache, cutting the nails and plucking the underarm hair.) This is the wording with Muslim.
Muhammad bin Ishaq reportd that Ibn `Abbas said, "The words that Allah tested Ibrahim with, and that he implemented were: abandoning his (disbelieving) people when Allah commanded him to do so, disputing with Nimrod (king of Babylon) about Allah, being patient when he was thrown in the fire (although this was extremely traumatic) migrating from his homeland when Allah commanded him to do so, patience with the monetary and material demands of hosting guests by Allah's command, and Allah's order for him to slaughter his son. When Allah tested Ibrahim with these words, and he was ready for the major test, Allah said to him,
أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
("Submit (be a Muslim)!" He said, "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of all that exists. ") (2:131) although this meant defying and being apart from the people."
The Unjust do not qualify for Allah's Promise
Allah said that Ibrahim said,
وَمِن ذُرِّيَتِى
(And of my offspring (to make leaders)) and Allah replied,
لاَ يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّـلِمِينَ
(My covenant (prophethood) includes not Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers)).
When Allah made Ibrahim an Imam (Leader for the faithful), he asked Allah that Imams thereafter be chosen from his offspring. Allah accepted his supplication, but told him that there will be unjust people among his offspring and they will not benefit from Allah's promise. Thus, they will neither become Imams nor be imitated (for they will not be righteous). The proof that Ibrahim's supplication to Allah was accepted is that Allah said in Surat Al-`Ankabut (29:27),
وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَـبَ
(And We ordained among his offspring prophethood and the Book).
Hence, every Prophet whom Allah sent after Ibrahim were from among his offspring, and every Book that Allah revealed was to them. As for Allah's statement,
قَالَ لاَ يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّـلِمِينَ
((Allah) said, "My covenant (prophethood) includes not Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers). ")
Allah mentioned that there are unjust people among the offspring of Ibrahim, and they will not benefit from Allah's promise, nor would they be entrusted with anything, even though they are among the children of Allah's Khalil (intimate friend, Prophet Abraham). There will also be those who do good among the children of Ibrahim, and these it is who will benefit from Ibrahim's supplication. Ibn Jarir said that this Ayah indicated that the unjust shall not be Imams for the people. Moreover, the Ayah informed Ibrahim that there will be unjust people among his offspring. Also, Ibn Khuwayz Mindad Al-Maliki said, "The unjust person does not qualify to be a Khalifah, a ruler, one who gives religious verdicts, a witness, or even a narrator (of Hadiths)."
Hadits Terkait
Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Zuhair bin Harb] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abdurrahman bin Mahdi] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hammad bin Salamah] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Tsabit] dari [Anas] bahwa kaum Yahudi dahulu apabila kaum wanita mereka, mereka tidak memberinya makan dan tidak mempergaulinya di rumah. Maka para sahabat Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bertanya kepada Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam. Lalu Allah menurunkan, "Mereka bertanya kepadamu tentang haidh. Katakanlah, 'Haidh itu adalah suatu kotoran'. Oleh sebab itu, hendaklah kamu menjauhkan diri dari wanita di waktu haidh; dan janganlah kamu mendekati mereka, sebelum mereka suci. Apabila mereka telah suci, maka campurilah mereka itu di tempat yang diperintahkan Allah kepadamu. Allah menyukai orang-orang yang taubat dan menyukai orang-orang yang mensucikan diri." (al-Baqarah: 222) maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda, "Perbuatlah segala sesuatu kecuali nikah". Maka hal tersebut sampai kepada kaum Yahudi, maka mereka berkata, "Laki-laki ini tidak ingin meninggalkan sesuatu dari perkara kita melainkan dia menyelisihi kita padanya." Lalu Usaid bin Hudhair dan Abbad bin Bisyr berkata, "Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya kaum Yahudi berkata demikian dan demikian, maka kami tidak menyenggamai kaum wanita." Raut wajah Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam spontan berubah hingga kami mengira bahwa beliau telah marah pada keduanya, lalu keduanya keluar, keduanya pergi bertepatan ada hadiah susu yang diperuntukkan Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, Maka beliau kirim utusan untuk menyusul kepergian keduanya, dan beliau suguhkan minuman untuk keduanya. Keduanya pun sadar bahwa beliau tidak marah atas keduanya
Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Muhammad bin 'Abbad] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sufyan] dari [Amru] dari [Jabir] dia berkata, "Muadz shalat bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, kemudian dia datang, lalu mengimami kaumnya. Maka dia melakukan shalat Isya' pada malam tersebut bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, kemudian mendatangi kaumnya, lalu mengimami mereka. Lalu dia membuka dengan surat al-Baqarah, maka seorang laki-laki berpaling lalu salam, kemudian shalat sendirian, lalu berpaling pergi. Maka mereka berkata kepadanya, 'Apakah kamu berlaku munafik wahai fulan? ' Dia menjawab, 'Tidak, demi Allah, aku akan mendatangi Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, lalu aku akan mengabarkan kepada beliau. Lalu dia mendatangi Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam seraya berkata, 'Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya para pekerja penyiram (tanaman) bekerja pada siang hari (sehingga kecapekan), dan sesungguhnya Mu'adz shalat Isya' bersamamu, kemudian dia datang kepada kami lalu shalat dengan membukanya dengan surat al-Baqarah.' Maka Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam menghadap Mu'adz seraya bersabda, 'Wahai Mu'adz, apakah kamu pemfitnah (yang membuat orang lari dari agama), bacalah dengan surat ini dan bacalah dengan ini' -maksudnya surat yang ringkas dan pendek--." Berkata Sufyan, maka saya berkata kepada Amru sesungguhnya [Abu az-Zubair] telah menceritakan kepada kami, dari [Jabir] bahwa dia berkata, "Bacalah 'Iqra dan asy-Syams wa Dhuhaha, serta Wa adh-dhuha wa al-Laili Idza Yaghsya dan Sabbihisma Rabbika al-A'la". Maka Amru berkata semisal ini
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu Bakar bin Abi Syaibah] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu al-Ahwash] dari [Abu Ishaq] dari [al-Bara' bin 'Azib] dia berkata, "Aku shalat bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam menghadap Baitul Maqdis selama enam belas bulan hingga turun ayat tersebut yang ada dalam surat al-Baqarah, "Dan di mana pun kamu berada maka palingkanlah wajah-wajahmu ke arahnya." (QS.Albaqarah 124), ayat tersebut turun setelah Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam shalat, lalu seorang laki-laki dari suatu kaum bertolak pergi, lalu dia berjalan bersama beberapa manusia dari kalangan Anshar, dan mereka shalat, lalu beliau menceritakannya kepada mereka, maka mereka menghadapkan wajah-wajah mereka ke Baitullah
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Yahya bin Yahya] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Husyaim] dari [Ismail bin Abi Khalid] dari [al-Harits bin Syubail] dari [Abu Amru asy-Syaibani] dari [Zaid bin Arqam] dia berkata, "Dahulu kami bercakap-cakap dalam shalat. Seorang laki-laki bercakap-cakap dengan teman di sampingnya dalam keadaan shalat, hingga turun ayat, '...Shalatlah kamu karena Allah dengan khusyu'. (Al-Baqarah: 238). Lalu kami disuruh diam, dan dilarang bercakap-cakap'." Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu Bakar bin Abi Syaibah] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abdullah bin Numair] dan [Waki'] dia berkata, --Lewat jalur periwayatan lain-- dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Ibrahim] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Isa bin Yunus] mereka meriwayatkan dari [Ismail bin Abi Khalid] dengan isnad ini hadits semisalnya
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Abu Bakr bin Ishaq] dia berkata; Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu Zaid Sa'id bin Ar-Rabi'] dia berkata; Telah menceritakan kepada kami ['Ali bin Al Mubarak] dari [Yahya bin Abu Katsir] dia berkata; Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Abu Hafshah] -budak 'Aisyah- bahwasanya ['Aisyah] mengabarkan kepadanya bahwa pada masa Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam terjadi gerhana matahari, maka beliau berwudlu lalu memerintahkan untuk menyeru, 'Ash-Shalatul Jami'ah'. Lalu beliau berdiri dan memperlama berdirinya saat shalat." Kemudian Aisyah berkata; 'Aku memperkirakan beliau membaca surah Al-Baqarah, kemudian beliau ruku' dengan ruku' yang lama, lalu mengucapakan Sami' Allahu Liman Hamidah. Kemudian beliau berdiri seperti berdirinya semula tanpa sujud, lalu ruku' lagi dan sujud lagi. Kemudian berdiri dan berbuat seperti yang diperbuat pada dua ruku' dan satu kali sujud yang pertama. Lantas beliau duduk, sedangkan matahari telah terang