Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 79

Mufti Taqi Usmani

I have, indeed, turned my face straight towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of those who associate partners with Allah.”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

I have turned my face towards the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth—being upright—and I am not one of the polytheists.”

Ruwwad Translation Center

I turn my face towards the One Who originated the heavens and earth, inclining to true faith, and I am not one of those who associate partners with Allah.”

A. J. Arberry

I have turned my face to Him who originated the heavens and the earth, a man of pure faith; I am not of the idolaters.'

Abdul Haleem

I have turned my face as a true believer towards Him who created the heavens and the earth. I am not one of the polytheists.’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Verily I have set my countenance towards Him who hath created the heavens and the earth, upright, and am not of the associaters.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah."

Abul Ala Maududi

Behold, I have turned my face in exclusive devotion to the One Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am certainly not one of those who associate others with Allah in His divinity.'

Ahmed Ali

I have truly turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth: I have chosen one way and am not an idolater."

Ahmed Raza Khan

“I have directed my attention towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, am devoted solely to Him, and am not of the polytheists.”

Ali Quli Qarai

‘Indeed I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, as a Hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists.’

Ali Ünal

"I have turned my face (my whole being) with pure faith and submission to the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth each with particular features, and I am not one of those associating partners with God."

Amatul Rahman Omar

`Surely, I have turned myself with devotion and in a most upright manner to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth. I have never been of the polytheists.´

English Literal

That I aimed/turned my face/front to who created the skies/space and the earth/Planet Earth (as) a submitter/Unifier of God , and I am not from the sharers/makers of partners (with God).

Faridul Haque

“I have directed my attention towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, am devoted solely to Him, and am not of the polytheists.”

Hamid S. Aziz

Verily, I have turned my face to Him who originated the heaven and the earth, as a ´Hanif´ (as one who is by nature upright), and I am not of the idolaters."

Hilali & Khan

Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allah Alone) and I am not of Al-Mushrikun (see V. 2:105)".

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Then when he saw the sun rising, he said: Is this my Lord? Is this the greatest? So when it set, he said: O my people, I am clear of what you set up (with Allah).

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters.

Muhammad Sarwar

I have up-rightly submitted myself to the One who has created the heavens and the earth and I am not an idol worshipper."

Qaribullah & Darwish

I have turned my face to Him who has created the heavens and the earth, uprightly, and I am not among the idolaters'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, Hanifan, and I am not of the idolators."

Wahiduddin Khan

I have set my face with single-minded devotion, towards Him who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of the polytheists."

Talal Itani

I have directed my attention towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth—a monotheist—and I am not of the idolaters.”

Tafsir jalalayn

He said; Verily I have turned my face to, I am seeking in worship, Him Who originated, created, the heavens and the earth, namely, God; a hanf, inclining towards the upright religion, and I am not of those that associate others', with Him.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ

he said;"O my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with Allah. Verily, I have turned my face...,"

meaning, I have purified my religion and made my worship sincere,

لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضَ

"towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth,"

Who originated them and shaped them without precedence,

حَنِيفًا
Hanifan,

avoiding Shirk and embracing Tawhid.

This is why he said next,

وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ



"and I am not of the idolators."
Prophet Ibrahim Debates with his People

We should note here that, in these Ayat, Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was debating with his people, explaining to them the error of their way in worshipping idols and images.

In the first case with his father, Ibrahim explained to his people their error in worshipping the idols of earth, which they made in the shape of heavenly angels, so that they intercede on their behalf with the Glorious Creator. His people thought that they are too insignificant to worship Allah directly, and this is why they turned to the worship of angels as intercessors with Allah for their provisions, gaining victory and attaining their various needs.

He then explained to them the error and deviation of worshipping the seven planets, which they said were the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The brightest of these objects and the most honored to them was the Sun, the Moon then Venus.

Ibrahim, may Allah's peace and blessings be on him, first proved that Venus is not worthy of being worshipped, for it is subservient to a term and course appointed that it does not defy, nor swerving right or left. Venus does not have any say in its affairs, for it is only a heavenly object that Allah created and made bright out of His wisdom. Venus rises from the east and sets in the west where it disappears from sight. This rotation is repeated the next night, and so forth. Such an object is not worthy of being a god.

Ibrahim then went on to mention the Moon in the same manner in which he mentioned Venus, and then the Sun.

When he proved that these three objects were not gods, although they are the brightest objects the eyes can see,
قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ
(he said;"O my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with Allah."),

meaning, I am free from worshipping these objects and from taking them as protectors. Therefore, if they are indeed gods as you claim, then all of you bring your plot against me and do not give me respite.

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ


Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, Hanifan, and I am not one of the idolators.

meaning, I worship the Creator of these things, Who originated and decreed them, and Who governs their affairs and made them subservient. It is He in Whose Hand is the dominion of all things, and He is the Creator, Lord, King and God of all things in existence.

In another Ayah, Allah said;

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars, subjecting them to His command. Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all that exists! (7;54)

Allah described Prophet Ibrahim,

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَأ إِبْرَهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَـلِمِينَ

إِذْ قَالَ لاًّبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَـذِهِ التَّمَـثِيلُ الَّتِى أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـكِفُونَ

And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim his (portion of) guidance, and We were well-acquainted with him. When he said to his father and his people;"What are these images, to which you are devoted!" (21;51-52)

These Ayat indicate that Ibrahim was debating with his people about the Shirk they practiced