Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 125

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Who is better in Faith than one who has surrendered his self to Allah and is good in deeds, and has followed the creed of Ibrāhīm, the upright. Allah has made Ibrāhīm a friend.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And who is better in faith than those who ˹fully˺ submit themselves to Allah, do good, and follow the Way of Abraham, the upright? Allah chose Abraham as a close friend.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Who is better in religion than one who submits himself entirely to Allah, does good, and follows the religion of Abraham, exclusively devoted to Allah? For Allah did take Abraham as a close friend.

A. J. Arberry

And who is there that has a fairer religion than he who submits his will to God being a good-doer, and who follows the creed of Abraham, a man of pure faith? And God took Abraham for a friend.

Abdul Haleem

Who could be better in religion than those who direct themselves wholly to God, do good, and follow the religion of Abraham, who was true in faith? God took Abraham as a friend.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And who can be better in religion than he who submitteth his countenance unto Allah, and sincere, and followeth the faith of Ibrahim, the upright And Allah took Ibrahim for a friend.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.

Abul Ala Maududi

And whose way of life could be better than that of he who submits his whole being to Allah, does good, and follows exclusively the way of Abraham whom Allah took for a friend?

Ahmed Ali

Whose way is better than that of the man who has submitted to God, and does good, and who follows the creed of Abraham the upright? And God chose Abraham as friend.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And whose religion is better than one who submits his self to Allah and is virtuous and follows the religion of Ibrahim, who was far removed from all falsehood? And Allah made Ibrahim His close friend.

Ali Quli Qarai

Who has a better religion than him who submits his will to Allah, being virtuous, and follows the creed of Abraham, a Hanif? And Allah took Abraham for a dedicated friend.

Ali Ünal

Who is better in religion than he who has submitted his whole being to God (seeking only His good pleasure, as one devoted to) doing good, aware that God is seeing him, and who follows the way (millah) of Abraham being of pure faith (free of unbelief, of associating partners with God and of hypocrisy). God accepted Abraham as a friend (one close and trusted).

Amatul Rahman Omar

And who is better in faith than one who submits his whole attention to Allâh and he is a doer of good to others and follows the religion of Abraham, the upright? And Allâh had taken Abraham for a special friend.

English Literal

And who (is in) a better religion from (than) who submitted/surrendered his face to God, and he is (a) good doer, and he followed Abraham`s religion/faith, Unifier of God ? And God took Abraham (as) a faithful/close friend.

Faridul Haque

And whose religion is better than one who submits his self to Allah and is virtuous and follows the religion of Ibrahim, who was far removed from all falsehood? And Allah made Ibrahim His close friend.

Hamid S. Aziz

They will ask you for a decision (or instructions) about women; say, "Allah decides for you about them, and so do the Scriptures recited to you (remember them) about female orphans to whom you do not give what is prescribed for them though you are not averse to marrying them; and about the weak (neglected, oppressed and deprived) children; and that you deal fairly with orphans. Whatever good you do, verily, Allah is ever Aware of it."

Hilali & Khan

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah (i.e. follows Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism); and he is a Muhsin (a good-doer - see V. 2:112). And follows the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham) Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah Alone). And Allah did take Ibrahim (Abraham) as a Khalil (an intimate friend).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And whoever does good deeds, whether male or female, and he (or she) is a believer -- these will enter the Garden, and they will not be dealt with a whit unjustly.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And who has a better religion than he who submits himself entirely to Allah? And he is the doer of good (to others) and follows the faith of Ibrahim, the upright one, and Allah took Ibrahim as a friend.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Who is better in religion than he who surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good (to men) and followeth the tradition of Abraham, the upright? Allah (Himself) chose Abraham for friend.

Muhammad Sarwar

Whose religion is better than that in which one submits himself to God, behaves righteously, and follows the upright religion of Abraham, God's chosen friend?

Qaribullah & Darwish

And who is better in religion than he who submits his face to Allah, being a gooddoer, and follows the Creed of Abraham, pure in faith? Allah took Abraham for a close friend.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah; and he is a Muhsin (a doer of good). And follows the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Monotheist). And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khalil (an intimate friend)!

Wahiduddin Khan

Who is better in faith than one who submits himself wholly to God, acts righteously, and follows the religion of Abraham, the upright in faith, whom God chose for a friend?

Talal Itani

And who is better in religion than he who submits himself wholly to God, and is a doer of good, and follows the faith of Abraham the Monotheist? God has chosen Abraham for a friend.

Tafsir jalalayn

And who, that is, [and] none, is fairer in religion than he who submits his purpose, that is, [than he who] is compliant and offers his deeds sincerely, to God and is virtuous, [and] declares God's Oneness, and who follows the creed of Abraham, the one that is in accordance with the creed of Islam, as a hanf? (hanfan is a circumstantial qualifier), that is to say, [one] inclining away from all religions to the upright religion. And God took Abraham for a close friend, as His elect, one whose love for Him is pure.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah.

meaning, performs the good actions in sincerity for his Lord with faith and awaiting the reward with Allah.

وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ

and he is a Muhsin,

following the correct guidance that Allah legislated in the religion of truth which He sent His Messenger with.

These are the two conditions, in the absence of which no deed will be accepted from anyone;

sincerity and

correctness.

The work is sincere when it is performed for Allah alone and it becomes correct when it conforms to the Shariah. So, the deed becomes outwardly correct with following the Sunnah and inwardly correct with sincerity. When any deed lacks either of these two conditions, the deed becomes null and void.

For instance, when one lacks the pillar of sincerity in his work, he becomes a hypocrite who shows off for people. Whoever does not follow the Shariah, he becomes an ignorant, wicked person. When one combines both pillars, his actions will be the deeds of the faithful believers whose best deeds are accepted from them and their errors erased.

Consequently, Allah said,

واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا

And follows the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Monotheist).

referring to Muhammad and his following, until the Day of Resurrection.

Allah said,

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِىُّ

Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet. (3;68)

and,

ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَأ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Then, We have sent the Revelation to you (saying);"Follow the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Monotheist) and he was not of the Mushrikin. (16;123)

The Hanif, intentionally and with knowledge, avoids Shirk, he goes attentively to the truth, allowing no one to hinder him or stop him from it.
Ibrahim is Allah's Khalil

Allah's statement,

وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلً



And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khalil (an intimate friend)!

encourages following Ibrahim Al-Khalil, because he was and still is an Imam whose conduct is followed and imitated.

Indeed, Ibrahim reached the ultimate closeness to Allah that the servants seek, for he attained the grade of Khalil, which is the highest grade of love. He acquired all this due to his obedience to His Lord, just as Allah has described him,

وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى

And of Ibrahim, the one who fulfilled, (53;37)

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ

And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim tried him with (certain) commands, which he fulfilled). (2;124)

and,

إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ


Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah, obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin. (16;120)

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Amr bin Maymun said that;

when Mu`adh came back from Yemen, he led them in the Fajr prayer and recited,
وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلً
(And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khalil!)

One of the men present commented, "Surely, the eye of Ibrahim's mother has been comforted."

Ibrahim was called Allah's Khalil due to his Lord's great love towards him, on account of the acts of obedience he performed that Allah loves and prefers.

We should mention here that in the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that;

when the Messenger of Allah gave them his last speech, he said,

مَّا بَعْدُ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الاَْرْضِ خَلِيلً لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرِ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلً وَلكِنْ صَاحِبُكُمْ خَلِيلُ الله

O people! If I were to take a Khalil from the people of the earth, I would have taken Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah as my Khalil. However, your companion (meaning himself) is the Khalil of Allah.

Jundub bin Abdullah Al-Bajali, Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As and Abdullah bin Mas`ud narrated that the Prophet said,

إِنَّ اللهَ اتَّخَذَنِي خَلِيلً كَمَا اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلً

Allah has chosen me as His Khalil, just as He has chosen Ibrahim as His Khalil.

Allah's statement