In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Saffat.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
“And lo! of his persuasion verily was Abraham” (37:83)
“When he came unto his Lord with a whole heart;” (37:84)
“When he said unto his father and his folk: What is it that ye worship?” (37:85)
Do you desire false deities instead of Allah?
“What then is your opinion of the Lord of the Worlds?” (37:87)
And indeed, among those who followed the path and religion of Noah was Abraham, the intimate friend of the Most Merciful.
When he came to his Lord with a heart sound and free from polytheism.
Devoted solely to Him in monotheism.
When he said to his father and his people:
"What is it that you worship?"
"Do you desire false deities other than Allah?"
"What do you think, O people, that He will do with you?"
"Will you meet Him, having worshipped others besides Him?"
“And he glanced a glance at the stars” (37:88)
He said, "Indeed, I am ill."
So they turned away from him, departing.
“And he glanced a glance at the stars” (37:88)
It is mentioned that his people were practitioners of astrology.
He saw a star that had risen.
He covered his head and said:
"I am afflicted with illness."
Abraham only intended for them to leave him.
So they turned away from Abraham, departing from him.
Fearing that they might catch the illness he claimed to have.
“Then turned he to their gods and said: Will ye not eat?” (37:91)
“What aileth you that ye speak not?” (37:92)
Then he turned to their deities after they had left and departed.
He brought food near them.
When he saw that they did not eat,
He said to them, "What is the matter with you that you do not eat?"
And he saw that they did not speak.
So he said to them, "Will you not eat?"
“What aileth you that ye speak not?” (37:92)
Mocking them.
“Then he attacked them, striking with his right hand.” (37:93)
So they came toward him, rushing.
He said, "Do you worship that which you carve?"
“When Allah hath created you and what ye make?” (37:96)
Then he turned upon the deities of his people, striking them with his right hand.
With an axe in his hand, breaking them.
So they came to him, hastening.
Abraham said to his people:
"Do you worship, O people, that which you carve with your own hands from idols?"
"While Allah created you, O people, and your deeds."
Or [do you worship] that from which you make the idols?
Which is the wood and the copper.
And the materials from which they used to carve their idols.
“They said: Build for him a building and fling him in the red-hotfire.” (37:97)
“And they designed a snare for him, but We made them the undermost.” (37:98)
The people of Abraham said, "Build a structure for Abraham."
It is mentioned that they built for him a structure resembling a furnace.
Then they brought firewood to it and ignited it.
So they threw him into the blazing fire.
And the 'Jahim' (blazing fire) to the Arabs,
Is the coals of fire piled one upon another, and fire upon fire.
So the people of Abraham intended a plot against Abraham by burning him with fire.
But We made the people of Abraham the humiliated ones in argument.
And We caused Abraham to prevail over them with the argument.
“And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me.” (37:99)
“My Lord! Vouchsafe me of the righteous.” (37:100)
And Abraham said, when Allah saved him from their plot:
"I am emigrating from the land of my people to the Holy Land."
"And I am separating from them, withdrawing to worship Allah."
"He will keep me steadfast on the guidance I have perceived."
"And He will aid me in it."
"My Lord, grant me from Yourself a child who will be among the righteous."
Those who obey You and do not disobey You.
And who do good on earth and do not cause corruption.
So We gave him glad tidings of a forbearing boy.
“And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.” (37:102)
He said, "O my son, indeed I see in a dream..."
“And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.” (37:102)
He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded."
"You will find me, if Allah wills, among the steadfast."
So We gave Abraham glad tidings of a boy of forbearance when he grew up.
When the boy whom Abraham was given glad tidings of reached the age of work,
Abraham said:
“And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice thee. So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast.” (37:102)
"So look, what do you command?"
His son said to him:
"O my father, do as your Lord commands you regarding my slaughter."
"You will find me, if Allah wills, patient among the steadfast."
Regarding what our Lord commands us.
“Then, when they had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him down upon his face,” (37:103)
“We called unto him: O Abraham!” (37:104)
"You have fulfilled the vision."
"Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good."
“Lo! that verily was a clear test.” (37:106)
So when they both submitted to the command of Allah,
And he laid him down on his forehead.
And the two sides of the forehead are the right and left of the brow.
“We called unto him: O Abraham!” (37:104)
"You have fulfilled the vision that We showed you in your dream."
"By commanding you to slaughter your son Isaac."
"Indeed, just as We rewarded you for your obedience, O Abraham,"
"Thus do We reward those who do good and obey Our command."
"Indeed, Our command to you, O Abraham, to slaughter your son,"
"Is the test that clarifies to whoever reflects upon it,"
"That it is a severe trial and a great affliction."
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
And We left for him [favorable mention] among the later generations.
Peace be upon Abraham.
Thus do We reward the doers of good.
Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.
And We rewarded your son Isaac,
By placing in the place of his slaughter the sacrifice of a great ram.
And We preserved for him among those who came after him until the Day of Resurrection a good reputation.
A security from Allah on earth for Abraham.
That he would not be mentioned after his time except with beautiful praise.
Just as We rewarded Abraham for his obedience and his excellence,
Thus do We reward the doers of good.
Indeed, Abraham was of Our servants who were sincere to Us in faith.
“And we gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the righteous.” (37:112)
“And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.” (37:113)
“And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.” (37:113)
And We gave Abraham glad tidings of Isaac as a prophet.
As a reward for his excellence and obedience.
And We blessed Abraham and Isaac.
And among their descendants is the believer who obeys Allah and is excellent in his obedience.
And the disbeliever in Allah who has clearly wronged himself by his disbelief in Allah.
“And We verily gave grace unto Moses and Aaron,” (37:114)
“And saved them and their people from the great distress,” (37:115)
And We supported them, so they were the victors.
And We bestowed favor upon Moses and Aaron.
And We made them both prophets.
And We saved them and their people from the great distress and affliction,
That they were in from the servitude of the family of Pharaoh.
And from that by which We destroyed Pharaoh.
And We supported them against Pharaoh and his people by drowning them.
So they were the victors over them.
And We gave them the clear Scripture.
And We guided them to the straight path.
“And We left for them among the later folk (the salutation):” (37:119)
“Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!” (37:120)
Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good.
“Lo! they are two of Our believing slaves.” (37:122)
And We gave Moses and Aaron the Torah.
And We guided Moses and Aaron to the straight path in which there is no deviation.
Which is Islam, the religion of Allah.
And We left for them both among the later generations after them good praise.
“Peace be unto Moses and Aaron!” (37:120)
Thus do We reward those who obey Us.
Indeed, Moses and Aaron were of Our servants who were sincere to Us in faith.
“And lo! Elias was of those sent (to warn),” (37:123)
“When he said unto his folk: Will ye not ward off (evil)?” (37:124)
“Will ye cry unto Baal and forsake the Best of creators,” (37:125)
And indeed, Elias ibn Yasin ibn Phinehas,
The son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, son of Imran,
Was one of the messengers.
When he said to his people among the Children of Israel:
"Do you not fear Allah, O people, and stand in awe of Him?"
"Do you call upon Ba'l and forsake the worship of the One who is better than he who is called Creator?"
And 'Ba'l' is said to mean 'Lord'.
And it is a dialect of the people of Yemen.
And it is said it is an idol called Ba'l.
And by it, Baalbek was named.
And it is said that Ba'l was a woman they used to worship.
“Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?” (37:126)
That is your deity, O people, who deserves worship from you.
Your Lord who created you.
And the Lord of your forefathers who passed away before you.
[And you worship] an idol that creates nothing, nor does it harm or benefit.
But they denied him, so they will indeed be brought [to punishment].
Except the sincere servants of Allah.
And We left for him [favorable mention] among the later generations.
Peace be upon 'Ilyasin' (Elias).
Indeed, thus do We reward the doers of good.
Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.
For Elias denied his people [their falsehood].
So they will indeed be brought into the punishment of Allah and will witness it.
Except the servants of Allah whom He purified from the punishment.
And We preserved for him good praise among the later nations after him.
A security from Allah for the family of Yasin.
Indeed, thus do We reward those who obey Us and the doers of good.
Indeed, Elias was a servant among Our servants who believed and declared Our oneness.
And did not associate anything with Us.
“And lo! Lot verily was of those sent (to warn).” (37:133)
“When We saved him and his household, every one,” (37:134)
Except an old woman among those who remained behind.
Then We destroyed the others.
And indeed, Lot was one of the messengers.
When We saved Lot and his family, all of them.
And indeed, of the punishment that We inflicted upon his people,
[None remained] except an old woman among those who stayed behind.
And she was the wife of Lot.
Then We pelted them with stones from above them.
And We destroyed them by that.
“And lo! ye verily pass by (the ruin of) them in the morning” (37:137)
And by night; will you not then use your reason?
Allah, the Exalted, says to the polytheists of Quraysh:
"And indeed, you pass by the people of Lot whom We destroyed,"
"At your morning time, by day, and by night."
"Do you not have intellects with which to reflect and contemplate?"
"So you would know that whoever follows the path of these people,"
"Will have descend upon them from the punishment of Allah the like of what descended upon them for their disbelief in Allah."
“And lo! Jonah verily was of those sent (to warn)” (37:139)
“When he fled unto the laden ship,” (37:140)
So he cast lots and was among the losers.
Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy.
And indeed, Jonah was one of the messengers to his people.
When he fled to the ship filled with cargo and heavily laden.
So he drew lots and was among the losers.
Then the fish swallowed him while he was deserving of blame.
“And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)” (37:143)
“He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised;” (37:144)
So had it not been that Jonah was among those who prayed to Allah before the trial he was afflicted with,
He would have remained imprisoned in the belly of the fish until the day Allah resurrects His creation.
But he was among those who remembered Allah before the trial.
So Allah remembered him in the state of his trial.
And He rescued him and saved him.