An-Nahl 123: And then, We revealed to you to follow Abraham’s nation (All imams - great religious leaders, are from his lineage). He was not a polytheist.

A. Metin Saruhan · 21 April 2017 · An-Nahl

Translation

And then, We revealed to you to follow Abraham’s nation (All imams - great religious leaders, are from his lineage). He was not a polytheist.

Tafsir

Although Allah (swt) sent His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a mercy to the worlds, He reminds our Prophet (pbuh) with Halil Ibrahim, saying that he was not one of the polytheists, and He commands him to invite people to guidance with the Holy Qur'an, which He sent as a light to the worlds.

Prophets come from the lineage of all Prophets and by way of succession. In this respect, each Prophet has his own place and rank in the sight of Allah.

In the Holy Qur'an, Allah (swt) lists the characteristics and traits of many Prophets. However, he gives the example of Hazrat Ibrahim as a superior characteristic. The Prophet (pbuh) is also from the lineage of Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.). In this respect, the Prophet (SAW) used to say that I am the son of two sacrifices. The first sacrifice was when Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown into the fire and was saved from the fire by the grace of Allah. The second sacrifice was Hazrat Abdullah, the father of the Prophet (SAW). He too was to be sacrificed, but by Allah's mercy his life was spared in exchange for a hundred camels.

The meaning of "follow the nation of Prophet Ibrahim" here is that Prophet Ibrahim was not one of the polytheists, and all these worlds were created from the light of the Prophet (pbuh) and human beings were created indirectly from his spirit. It is the light of the Prophet (pbuh) shining on Hazrat Ibrahim 'alaihis-salâm'. Since our Prophet (PBUH) was never one of the polytheists, in this respect, Hazrat Halil Ibrahim 'alaihis-salâm' was never one of the polytheists. By praising Hazrat Khalil Ibrahim, Allah (swt) glorifies the glory of the Prophet (s.a.w.).

What is said in the video

Surah An-Nahl, verse 123: we have come to it.

Then We revealed to you: follow the millah of Abraham; he was not of the polytheists. Now the Prophet (peace be upon him), according to this verse, says: I am of the millah of Abraham. If you ask us: as a Muslim, which millah are you of? We are of the millah of Abraham. Because the Prophet is of the millah of Abraham, we too are of the millah of Abraham. If one asks whose ummah you are in: of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we are of his ummah. Yes, as millah, the millah of Abraham; as ummah, of Muhammad (peace be upon him), we are of his ummah. So: then We revealed to you, follow the millah of Abraham; he was not of the polytheists.

That is, following the millah of Abraham means: because he never followed the polytheists, that is, the idol-worshippers, the Prophet too, indeed, to worship the one Allah, his being sent to the world as a prophet, and inviting his millah and his ummah to the duty of servitude to the one Allah, is so as to raise the Prophet's honor here. Although Allah Almighty sent the Beloved of the Almighty, Muhammad (peace be upon him), as a mercy to the worlds, He reminds the Prophet (peace be upon him) of Abraham Khalil and, saying he was not of the polytheists: with the Holy Quran He sent as a light to the worlds, invite people to guidance, He commands. The prophets came from the loins of all the prophets and through lineage.

Therefore, in Allah's knowledge, each prophet has his own place and rank. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty recounts the features and traits of many prophets. But with a quality superior to these, He presents Abraham as an example. The Prophet (peace be upon him) too comes from the line of Abraham (peace be upon him). Therefore the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say: I am the son of the two sacrificed ones. The first sacrifice: Abraham (peace be upon him) being thrown into the fire. By Allah's grace, his being saved from the fire. The second sacrifice is the Prophet's (peace be upon him) father, Abdullah.

He too was to be sacrificed. By Allah's mercy, for a hundred camels his life was spared. So for this too, (?) follow the millah of Abraham, meaning, Abraham (peace be upon him) was not of the polytheists. All these worlds were created from the light of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and people too, consequently, from his spirit. It is the light of the Prophet (peace be upon him) moving over Abraham (peace be upon him).

Because the Prophet (peace be upon him) was never of the polytheists, for this reason Abraham Khalil (peace be upon him) too was never of the polytheists. Allah Almighty, by praising Abraham Khalil, the honor of the Prophet (peace be upon him), by exalting it, (?). Yes.