Surah Al An'am Tafseer

Islam is the Straight Path

Allah commands His prophet to;

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى 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, Hanifan (monotheism) and he was not of the Mushrikin."

Allah commands His Prophet, 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

(The religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan and he was not of the Mushrikin).

Allah said in similar Ayat,

وَمَن يَرْغَبُ عَن مِّلَّةِ إِبْرَهِيمَ إِلاَّ مَن سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ

And who turns away from the religion of Ibrahim except him who deludes himself! (2:130)

and,

وَجَـهِدُوا فِى اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَـدِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَـكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكمْ فِى الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَهِيمَ

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 إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

شَاكِراً لانْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَـهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ

ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَأ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ 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 to follow the religion of Ibrahim, the Hanifiyyah, does not mean that Prophet Ibrahim reached more perfection in it than our Prophet. Rather, our Prophet 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 Judgment).

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 السَّمْحَة

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

The Command for Sincerity in Worship

Allah said next,

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ