Verily, Ibrahim was (himself) an Ummah, obedient to Allah, a Hanif (monotheist), and he was not one of the idolators (120)(He was) thankful for His favors. He (Allah) chose him and guided him to a straight path (121)And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous (122)Then, We have sent the revelation to you: "Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Hanif, and he was not one of the idolators. (123)
The Khalil (Close Friend) of Allah
Allah praises His servant, Messenger and close friend Ibrahim, the Imam of the Hanifs the father of the Prophets, and Allah declares Ibrahim's innocence of the idolators, Jews or Christians. Allah says:
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا
(Verily, Ibrahim was (himself) an Ummah, obedient to Allah, a Hanif (monotheist))[16:120]
Ummah here means the leader who is followed. Qanit (obedient to Allah) means humble and obedient. Hanif means one who deliberately steers clear of Shirk in favor of Tawhid. Hence Allah says:
وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(and he was not one of the idolators.)
Mujahid said: "Ummah (here) means that he was a nation on his own."
شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ
((He was) thankful for His favors.)
means, he gave thanks for the blessings that Allah gave him. As Allah says:
وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ
(And of Ibrahim the one who fulfilled.)[53:37]
which means that he did everything that Allah commanded him to do.
اجْتَبَاهُ
(He (Allah) chose him) means, He selected him, as Allah says:
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ
(And before, We indeed gave Ibrahim his integrity, and We were indeed most knowledgeable about him)(21:51). Then Allah says:
وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
(and guided him to a straight path.) which means to worship Allah alone, without partners or associate, in the manner that He prescribed and which pleases Him.
وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً
(And We gave him good in this world,) meaning, 'We granted him all that a believer may require for a good and complete life in this world.'
وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
(and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous.) Concerning the Ayah:
وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً
(And We gave him good in this world,) Mujahid said: "This means a truthful tongue."
ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا
(Then, We have sent the revelation to you: "Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Hanif...) meaning, 'because of his perfection, greatness, and the soundness of his Tawhid and his way, We revealed to you, O Seal of the Messengers and Leader of the Prophets ﷺ,'
أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Follow the religion of Ibrahim (he was a) Hanif and he was not of the idolators.) This is like the Ayah in Surat Al-An'am:
قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
(Say: "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif and he was not of the idolators.")(6:161). Then Allah rebukes the Jews,
