Surah Al Isra Tafseer

He said:"See this one whom You have honored above me..."

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said,

"He is saying, `I am going to dominate his offspring, all but a few."'

Mujahid said (it means),

"I am going to surround them."

Ibn Zayd said (it means),

"I am going to lead them astray."

All of them are close in meaning, and the meaning of the Ayah is,

"Do You see this one whom You have honored and made greater than me If You give me time, I will lead his descendants astray, all but a few of them."

لَيِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَاحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إَلاَّ قَلِيلً

if You give me respite to the Day of Resurrection, I will surely, seize and mislead his offspring, all but a few!