6. Al-An'aam

Say: "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan (monotheism) and he was not of the Mushrikin. (161)Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. (162)"He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. (163)

Islam is the Straight Path

Allah commands His Prophet ﷺ, the chief of the Messengers, to convey the news of being guided to Allah's straight path. This path is neither wicked, nor deviant,

دِينًا قِيَمًا

(a right religion...) that is, established on firm grounds,

مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(The religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan and he was not of the Mushrikin.) Allah said in similar Ayat,

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ

(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself?)[2:130], and,

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

(And strive hard in Allah's cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship: it is the religion of your father Ibrahim.)[22:78], and,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin. (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif, and he was not of the Mushrikin")[16:120-123].

Ordering the Prophet ﷺ to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanifiyyah, does not mean that Prophet Ibrahim reached more perfection in it than our Prophet ﷺ. Rather, our Prophet ﷺ perfectly established the religion and it was completed for him; and none before him reached this level of perfection. This is why he is the Final Prophet, the chief of all the Children of Adam who holds the station of praise and glory, the honor of intercession on the Day of Resurrection. All creation (on that Day) will seek him, even Ibrahim the friend of Allah, peace be upon him [to request the beginning of Judgement].

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked, 'Which religion is the best with Allah, the Exalted?' He said,

الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ السَّمْحَةُ

(Al-Hanifiyyah As-Samhah (the easy monotheism))"

The Command for Sincerity in Worship

Allah said next,

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the all that exists.")

Allah …

Say: "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan (monotheism) and he was not of the Mushrikin. (161)Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all that exists. (162)"He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. (163)

Islam is the Straight Path

Allah commands His Prophet ﷺ, the chief of the Messengers, to convey the news of being guided to Allah's straight path. This path is neither wicked, nor deviant,

دِينًا قِيَمًا

(a right religion...) that is, established on firm grounds,

مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(The religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan and he was not of the Mushrikin.) Allah said in similar Ayat,

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ

(And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself?)[2:130], and,

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

(And strive hard in Allah's cause as you ought to strive. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship: it is the religion of your father Ibrahim.)[22:78], and,

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin. (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim, (he was a) Hanif, and he was not of the Mushrikin")[16:120-123].

Ordering the Prophet ﷺ to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanifiyyah, does not mean that Prophet Ibrahim reached more perfection in it than our Prophet ﷺ. Rather, our Prophet ﷺ perfectly established the religion and it was completed for him; and none before him reached this level of perfection. This is why he is the Final Prophet, the chief of all the Children of Adam who holds the station of praise and glory, the honor of intercession on the Day of Resurrection. All creation (on that Day) will seek him, even Ibrahim the friend of Allah, peace be upon him [to request the beginning of Judgement].

Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah was asked, 'Which religion is the best with Allah, the Exalted?' He said,

الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ السَّمْحَةُ

(Al-Hanifiyyah As-Samhah (the easy monotheism))"

The Command for Sincerity in Worship

Allah said next,

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(Say: "Verily, my Salah, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the all that exists.")

Allah …

Say: "Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been differing. (164)

The Command to Sincerely Trust in Allah

Allah said,

قُلْ

(Say), O Muhammad ﷺ, to those idolators, about worshipping Allah alone and trusting in Him,

أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا

(Shall I seek a lord other than Allah...)[6:164],

وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ

(while He is the Lord of all things?) and Who protects and saves me and governs all my affairs? But, I only trust in Him and go back to Him, because He is the Lord of everything, Owner of all things and His is the creation and the decision.

This Ayah commands sincerely trusting Allah, while the Ayah before it commands sincerely worshipping Allah alone without partners. These two meanings are often mentioned together in the Qur'an. Allah directs His servants to proclaim,

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

(You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help (for each and every thing).)[1:5] Allah said,

فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ

(So worship Him and put your trust in Him.)[11:123], and

قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا

(Say: "He is the Most Gracious (Allah), in Him we believe, and in Him we put our trust".)[67:29], and,

رَّبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا

(Lord of the east and the west; none has the right to be worshipped but He. So take Him a guardian.)[73:9] There are similar Ayat on this subject.

Every Person Carries His Own Burden

Allah said,

وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ

(No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another.) thus emphasizing Allah's reckoning, decision and justice that will occur on the Day of Resurrection. The souls will only be recompensed for their deeds, good for good and evil for evil. No person shall carry the burden of another person, a fact that indicates Allah's perfect justice. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ

(And if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted even though he be near of kin.)[35:18], and,

فَلَا يَخَافُ ظُلْمًا وَلَا هَضْمًا

(Then he will have no fear of injustice, nor of any curtailment (of his reward).)[20:112]

Scholars of Tafsir commented, "No person will be wronged by carrying the evil deeds of another person, nor will his own good deeds be curtailed or decreased." Allah also said;

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ - إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ

(Every person is a pledge for what he has earned. Except those on the Right.)[74:38-39], meaning, every person will be tied to his evil deeds. But, for those on the right – the believers – the blessing of their good works will benefit their offspring and relatives, as well. Allah said in Surat At-Tur,

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم …

And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely, your Lord is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (165)

Allah Made Mankind Dwellers on the earth, Generation After Generation, of Various Grades, in order to Test Them

Allah said,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ

(And it is He Who has made you generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth.) meaning, He made you dwell on the earth generation after generation, century after century and offspring after forefathers, according to Ibn Zayd and others. Allah also said,

وَلَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَا مِنكُم مَّلَائِكَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ يَخْلُفُونَ

(And if it were Our will, We would have made angels to replace you on the earth)[43:60], and,

وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ

(And makes you inheritors of the Earth, generations after generations.)[27:62], and

إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

(Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth.)[2:30], and,

عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ

(It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy and make you successors on the earth, so that He may see how you act.)[7:129] Allah's statement,

وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ

(And He has raised you in ranks, some above others,) means, He has made you different from each other with regards to provision, conduct, qualities, evilness, shapes, color of skin, and so forth, and He has the perfect wisdom in all this. Allah said in other Ayat,

نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا

(It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work.)[43:32], and,

انظُرْ كَيْفَ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَلَلْآخِرَةُ أَكْبَرُ دَرَجَاتٍ وَأَكْبَرُ تَفْضِيلًا

(See how We prefer one above another (in this world), and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.)[17:21] Allah's statement,

لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ

(that He may try you in that which He has bestowed on you.) means, so that He tests you in what He has granted you, for Allah tries the rich concerning his wealth and will ask him about how he appreciated it. He also tries the poor concerning his poverty and will ask him about his patience with it. Muslim recorded that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا حُلْوَةٌ خَضِرَةٌ وَإِنَّ اللهَ مُسْتَخْلِفُكُمْ فِيهَا فَنَاظِرٌ مَاذَا تَعْمَلُونَ، فَاتَّقُوا الدُّنْيَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ فِتْنَةِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَتْ فِي النِّسَاءِ

(Verily, this life is beautiful and green, and Allah made you dwell in it generation after generation so that He sees what you will do. Therefore, beware of this life and beware of women, for the first trial …