Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Mumtahanah Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Indeed, there is an excellent example for you in Ibrāhīm and those with him, when they said to their people, “We disown you and what you worship instead of Allah. We disbelieve in you. Enmity and hatred has arisen between us and you forever, unless you believe in Allah alone”,- but (his example is) not (to be followed) in what Ibrāhīm said to his father, “I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness, and I have no power from Allah (to do any thing) for you.” - “O our Lord, in You alone we trust, and to You alone we turn for help, and to You is the final return.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

You already have an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We totally dissociate ourselves from you and ˹shun˺ whatever ˹idols˺ you worship besides Allah. We reject you. The enmity and hatred that has arisen between us and you will last until you believe in Allah alone.” The only exception is when Abraham said to his father, “I will seek forgiveness for you,˹” adding, “but˺ I cannot protect you from Allah at all.” ˹The believers prayed,˺ “Our Lord! In You we trust. And to You we ˹always˺ turn. And to You is the final return.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Indeed, you have a good example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We dissociate ourselves from you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We renounce you, and the enmity and hatred have arisen between us and you forever until you believe in Allah alone”, except for Abraham when he said to his father, “I will seek forgiveness for you, but I cannot protect you from Allah in the least.” “Our Lord, in You we put our trust and to You we turn, and to You is the final return.”

A. J. Arberry

You have had a good example in Abraham, and those with him, when they said to their people, 'We are quit of you and that you serve, apart from God. We disbelieve in you, and between us and you enmity has shown itself, and hatred for ever, until you believe in God alone. (Except that Abraham said unto his father, 'Certainly I shall ask pardon for thee; but I have no power to do aught for thee against God.') 'Our Lord, in Thee we trust; to Thee we turn; to Thee is the homecoming.

Abdul Haleem

You have a good example in Abraham and his companions, when they said to their people, ‘We disown you and what you worship besides God! We renounce you! Until you believe in God alone, the enmity and hatred that has arisen between us will endure!’––except when Abraham said to his father, ‘I will pray for forgiveness for you though I cannot protect you from God’––[they prayed]

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Surely there hath been an excellent pattern for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said Unto their people; verily we are quit of you and of that which ye worship beside Allah; we renounce you; and surely there hath appeared between us and you hostility and hatred for evermore until ye believe in Allah alone, - except the saying of Ibrahim Unto his father: surely I shall beg forgiveness for thee, and I have no power with Allah for thee at all. Our Lord! in Thee we put our trust, and Unto Thee we turn, and Unto Thee is the journeying.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people; "We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah; we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone"; But not when Abraham said to his father; "I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah." (They prayed); "Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance; to Thee is (our) Final Goal.

Abul Ala Maududi

You have a good example in Abraham and his companions: they said to their people: “We totally dissociate ourselves from you, and from the deities that you worship instead of Allah. We renounce you and there has come to be enmity and hatred between us and you until you believe in Allah, the One True God.” (But you may not emulate) Abraham's saying to his father: “Certainly I will ask pardon for you, although I have no power over Allah to obtain anything on your behalf.” (And Abraham and his companions prayed): “Our Lord, in You have we put our trust, and to You have we turned, and to You is our ultimate return.

Ahmed Ali

You have an excellent model in Abraham and those who were with him, when he said to his people: "We are through with you, and those you worship other than God. We reject you. Enmity and hate have come between you and us for ever, unless you believe in God the One," -- except for what he said to his father: "I shall ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to prevail with God for you." "O Lord, we place our trust in You, and turn to You in penitence, and to You is our returning.

Ahmed Raza Khan

Indeed in Ibrahim, and those along with him, lay a good example for you follow – when they said to their people, “Indeed we are unconcerned with you and all what you worship besides Allah; we reject you, and between us and you has surfaced enmity and hatred for ever until you accept faith in the One Allah” – except the saying of Ibrahim to his father, “I will surely seek forgiveness for you, and I do not possess any power to benefit you against Allah”; “O our Lord! We have relied only upon You, and towards You only we have inclined and only towards You is the return”.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is certainly a good exemplar for you in Abraham and those who were with him, when they said to their own people, ‘Indeed we repudiate you and whatever you worship besides Allah. We disown you, and enmity and hate have appeared between you and us for ever, unless you come to have faith in Allah alone,’ apart from Abraham’s saying to his father, ‘I will surely plead forgiveness for you, though I cannot avail you anything against Allah.’ ‘Our Lord! In You do we put our trust, and to You do we turn penitently, and toward You is the destination.

Ali Ünal

Indeed you have had an excellent example to follow in Abraham and those in his company, when they said to their (idolatrous) people (who were their kin): "We are quit of you and whatever you worship besides God. We have rejected you (in your polytheism), and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hate forever until you believe in God alone (as the only One to be worshipped." (So it was) except for Abraham’s saying to his father: "I most surely will plead for God’s forgiveness for you, though I have no power at all to do anything for you against God." (And their prayer was): "O Our Lord! It is in You that We have put our trust, and it is to You that we turn in utmost sincerity and devotion, and to You is the homecoming.

Amatul Rahman Omar

There is indeed a noble example for you (to follow) in Abraham and his companions. Behold! they said to their people, `We have nothing to do with you and We disown that you worship apart from Allâh. We disapprove of all that you say and do. A long lasting (type of) enmity and rancour has arisen and become apparent between you and us, no doubt. (It will last) till you believe in Allâh alone.´ But (you have no example to emulate) in the words of Abraham to his sire (when he said), `I will surely ask forgiveness for you from Allâh though I can do nothing against (the will of) Allâh.´ (Abraham and his companions also prayed to their Lord), `Our Lord! in You we put our trust, and to You alone do we turn (in repentance), and towards You alone is the (final) return.

English Literal

A good example/model (to follow) had been for you in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their nation: "We are innocent/separating from you, and from what you worship from other than God, we disbelieved with you, and the animosity and the intense hatred appeared between us and between you (for) ever (E), until you believe with (in) God alone." Except Abraham`s word/statement to his father: "I will ask for forgiveness for you, and I do not own/possess for you from God from a thing, our Lord, on You we relied depended (on) , and to You we returned/repented , and to You (is) the end/destination."

Faridul Haque

Indeed in Ibrahim, and those along with him, lay a good example for you follow - when they said to their people, “Indeed we are unconcerned with you and all what you worship besides Allah; we reject you, and between us and you has surfaced enmity and hatred for ever until you accept faith in the One Allah” – except the saying of Ibrahim to his father, “I will surely seek forgiveness for you, and I do not possess any power to benefit you against Allah”; “O our Lord! We have relied only upon You, and towards You only we have inclined and only towards You is the return”.

Hamid S. Aziz

Indeed, there is for you a good example in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people, "Surely we are clear of you and of what you serve besides Allah; we have rejected you, and enmity and hostility have appeared between us and you forever until you believe in Allah alone. But not in what Abraham said to his father, "I will pray forgiveness for you, but I control nothing for you from Allah." (They prayed,) "Our Lord! On Thee do we rely, and to Thee do we turn repentant, and to Thee is our final goal.

Hilali & Khan

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred for ever, until you believe in Allah Alone," except the saying of Ibrahim (Abraham) to his father: "Verily, I will ask for forgiveness (from Allah) for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah." Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return,

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Your relationships and your children would not profit you, on the day of Resurrection -- He will decide between you. And Allah is Seer of what you do.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Indeed, there is for you a good example in Ibrahim and those with him when they said to their people: Surely we are clear of you and of what you serve besides Allah; we declare ourselves to be clear of you, and enmity and hatred have appeared between us and you forever until you believe in Allah alone-- but not in what Ibrahim said to his father: I would certainly ask forgiveness for you, and I do not control for you aught from Allah-- Our Lord! on Thee do we rely, and to Thee do we turn, and to Thee is the eventual coming:

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

There is a goodly pattern for you in Abraham and those with him, when they told their folk: Lo! we are guiltless of you and all that ye worship beside Allah. We have done with you. And there hath arisen between us and you hostility and hate for ever until ye believe in Allah only - save that which Abraham promised his father (when he said): I will ask forgiveness for thee, though I own nothing for thee from Allah - Our Lord! In Thee we put our trust, and unto Thee we turn repentant, and unto Thee is the journeying.

Muhammad Sarwar

Abraham and those with him are the best examples for you to follow. They told the people, "We have nothing to do with you and with those whom you worship besides God. We have rejected you. Enmity and hatred will separate us forever unless you believe in One God." Abraham told his father, "I shall ask forgiveness for you only, but I shall not be of the least help to you before God".

Qaribullah & Darwish

You have a good example in Abraham and those with him. They said to their nation: 'We are quit of you, and that which you worship, other than Allah. We disbelieve you, enmity and hatred has shown itself between us for ever until you believe in Allah alone' Except that Abraham said to his father: 'Surely, I shall supplicate to ask for forgiveness for you although I have no power to do anything for you with Allah' ' Our Lord, in You we have put our trust; to You we turn, and to You is the arrival,

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone," -- except the saying of Ibrahim to his father: "Verily, I will ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah." "Our Lord! In You we put our trust, and to You we turn in repentance, and to You is the final Return."

Wahiduddin Khan

Indeed you have an excellent example in Abraham and those who followed him, when they said to their people, "We disown you and whatever you worship besides God. We renounce you. Enmity and hatred shall endure between us and you, until you believe in the one God." [The exception was] when Abraham said to his father, "I shall indeed pray for [God"s] forgiveness for you; although I do not have it in my power to obtain anything from God on your behalf." They prayed, "O our Lord, in You we have placed our trust and to You we turn in repentance and to You is the final return.

Talal Itani

You have had an excellent example in Abraham and those with him; when they said to their people, “We are quit of you, and what you worship apart from God. We denounce you. Enmity and hatred has surfaced between us and you, forever, until you believe in God alone.” Except for the words of Abraham to his father, “I will ask forgiveness for you, though I have no power from God to do anything for you.” “Our Lord, in You we trust, and to You we repent, and to You is the ultimate resort.

Tafsir jalalayn

Verily there is for you a good example (read iswa or uswa in both instances, meaning qudwa) in [the person of] Abraham, in terms of [his] sayings and deeds, and those who were with him, of believers, when they said to their people, `We are indeed innocent of you (bura'' is the plural of bar', similar [in form] to zarf, `charming') and of what you worship besides God. We repudiate you, we disavow you, and between us and you there has arisen enmity and hate forever (wa'l-baghd'u abadan; pronounce both hamzas fully, or replace the second one with a ww) until you [come to] believe in God alone', except for Abraham's saying to his father, `I shall ask forgiveness for you -- [this statement is] excepted from `a [good] example', so it is not [right] for you to follow his example in this [respect] by asking forgiveness for disbelievers. As for his saying; but I cannot avail you anything against God' -- that is, either against His chastisement or [to secure for you of] His reward -- he [Abraham] is using it to intimate [to his father] that he can do nothing for him other than to ask forgiveness [for him], which [saying] is itself based on that [former statement] albeit excepted [from it] in terms of what is meant by it, even if on the face of it, it would seem to be [semantically] part of the [good] example to be followed; Say, `Who can avail you anything against God' [Q. 48;11]; his [Abraham's] plea of forgiveness for him was before it became evident to him that he [his father] was an enemy of God, as mentioned in srat Bar'a [Q. 9;114]. `Our Lord, in You we put our trust, and to You we turn [penitently], and to You is the journeying; these are the words of the Friend [of God, Abraham] and those who were with him, in other words, they were saying;

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Good Example of Ibrahim and His Followers, when They disowned Their Disbelieving People

Allah the Exalted says to His faithful servants, whom He commanded to disown the disbelievers, to be enemies with them, and to distant themselves and separate from them;

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him,

meaning, his followers who believed in him,

إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَاء مِنكُمْ

when they said to their people;"Verily we are free from you..."

meaning, `we disown you,'

وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ

كَفَرْنَا بِكُمْ

and whatever you worship besides Allah;we rejected you,

meaning, `we disbelieve in your religion and way,'

وَبَدَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةُ وَالْبَغْضَاء أَبَدًا

and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever.

meaning, `Animosity and enmity have appeared between us and you from now and as long as you remain on your disbelief; we will always disown you and hate you,'

حَتَّى تُوْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ


until you believe in Allah alone,

meaning, `unless, and until, you worship Allah alone without partners and disbelieve in the idols and rivals that you worship besides Him.'

Allah's statement,

إِلاَّ قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لاَِبِيهِ لَاَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ

except the saying of Ibrahim to his father;"Verily, I will ask forgiveness (from Allah) for you..."

means, `you have a good example in Ibrahim and his people;

as for Ibrahim's prayers to Allah for his father, it was a promise that he made for his father.' When Ibrahim became sure that his father was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself innocent of him.

Some of the believers used to invoke Allah for their parents who died as disbelievers, begging Him to forgive them. They did so claiming that Ibrahim used to invoke Allah to forgive his father.

Allah the Exalted said in reply,

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَـبُ الْجَحِيمِ

وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَهِيمَ لاًّبِيهِ إِلاَّ عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَأ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ لَاوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ

It is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Fire (because they died in a state of disbelief).

And Ibrahim's request for his father's forgiveness was only because of a promise he made to him .But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him.

Verily, Ibrahim was Awwah and was forbearing. (9;113-114)

Allah said here,

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ

إِذْ قَالُوا لِقَوْمِهِمْ إِنَّا بُرَاء مِنكُمْ

Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people;"Verily, we are free from you..."

until,

إِلاَّ قَوْلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لاَِبِيهِ لَاَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ

وَمَا أَمْلِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ
except the saying of Ibrahim to his father;"Verily, I will ask forgiveness for you, but I have no power to do anything for you before Allah."

meaning, `You cannot follow Ibrahim's example as proof in the case mentioned here, as being allowed to ask Allah to forgive those who died on Shirk.'

This is the saying of Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Ad-Dahhak and several others.

Allah the Exalted said that Ibrahim and his companions, who parted with their people and disowned their way, said afterwards, while invoking Allah in humility and submission,

رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ



Our Lord!

In You we put our trust, and to You we turn in repentance, and to You is the final Return.

meaning, `we trust in You for all matters, we surrender all of our affairs to You, and to You is the final Return in the Hereafter,