Quran Universe
38:45

وَٱذۡكُرۡ عِبَٰدَنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ أُوْلِي ٱلۡأَيۡدِي وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرِ

Waothkur AAibadana ibraheema waishaqa wayaAAqooba olee alaydee waalabsari

And remember Our servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - those of strength and [religious] vision.

Word by word
  1. وَٱذۡكُرۡAnd remember
  2. عِبَٰدَنَآOur slaves
  3. إِبۡرَٰهِيمَIbrahim
  4. وَإِسۡحَٰقَand Isaac
  5. وَيَعۡقُوبَand Ayyub
  6. أُوْلِيpossessors
  7. ٱلۡأَيۡدِي(of) strength
  8. وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرِand vision
Sad · 38:45Makkah

Ibrahim, Ishaq and Yaqub: people of strength and vision.

Strong hands in worship, clear eyes in faith

What they had
Ibrahim, Ishaq, YaqubOur servants
had
handsstrength in worship, deeds
visionunderstanding the religion
What a full faith looks like
only knowledgeor only action
both togetherdeeds with insight

Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ to remember these servants, described as having hands and vision. Ibn Kathir explains it as righteous deeds, beneficial knowledge, strength in worship and insight. Ibn Abbas said great strength in worship and understanding of the religion.

You know a lot of facts about Islam from videos. Or you pray a lot but rarely learn why. These prophets had both: strong in doing, clear in seeing.

Either I study religion or I practice it.

The best of Allah's servants joined strong worship with deep understanding.

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Learn the meaning of one thing you say in prayer, and pay attention to it next time.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir

And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar (45)Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode (46)And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best (47)And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa', and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best (48)This is a Reminder.. ()

The Chosen and the Best among the Prophets

Allah tells us about the virtues of His servants the Messengers and His Prophets:

وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُولِي الْأَيْدِي وَالْأَبْصَارِ

(And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar.) meaning, righteous deeds, beneficial knowledge, strength in worship and insight. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

أُولِي الْأَيْدِي

(Ulil-Aydi) "Of great strength and worship;

وَالْأَبْصَارِ

(wal-Absar) means, understanding of the religion." Qatadah and As-Suddi said, "They were given strength in worship and understanding of the religion."

إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُمْ بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ

(Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode.) Mujahid said, "This means: We made them strive for the Hereafter, and there is nothing else for them besides that." As-Suddi also said, "The remembrance of the Hereafter and striving for it." Malik bin Dinar said, "Allah removed the love of this world from their hearts, and singled them out for land remembrance of the Hereafter." Qatadah said, "They used to remind the people about the Abode of the Hereafter and to strive for it."

وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ

(And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best!) means, they are among those who have been elected and chosen, and they are the best and the chosen ones.

وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّ مِنَ الْأَخْيَارِ

(And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa', and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best.) We have already discussed their characteristics and stories in detail in Surat Al-Anbiya', may peace be upon them, and there is no need to repeat it here.

هَٰذَا ذِكْرٌ ۚ

(This is a Reminder) means, a reminder to those who will be reminded. As-Suddi said, "This means the Holy Qur'an."