Surah Al Imran Tafseer

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa,

shunning Shirk and living in Iman,

وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

and he was not of the Mushrikin.

This Ayah is similar to the Ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah,

وَقَالُواْ كُونُواْ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـرَى تَهْتَدُواْ

And they say, "Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided..." (2:135)

Allah said next,

إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُواْ وَاللّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُوْمِنِينَ