Surah 29

Surah 29:16

"And Abraham, when he said to his people: ‘Serve God, and guard (yourselves) against Him. That is better for you, if (only) you knew."
Ibrahim and His Preaching Verses 29:16-18
Show Full Scripture Context (29:16-18) — 3 Verses
Verse 16

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُۖ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

And Abraham, when he said to his people: ‘Serve God, and guard (yourselves) against Him. That is better for you, if (only) you knew.

Verse 17

إِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡثَٰنٗا وَتَخۡلُقُونَ إِفۡكًاۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ لَكُمۡ رِزۡقٗا فَٱبۡتَغُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزۡقَ وَٱعۡبُدُوهُ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥٓۖ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ

Instead of God, you only serve idols, and you create a lie. Surely those whom you serve, instead of God, do not possess any provision for you. Seek (your) provision from God, and serve Him, and be thankful to Him – to Him you will be returned.

Verse 18

وَإِن تُكَذِّبُواْ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٞ مِّن قَبۡلِكُمۡۖ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ

But if you call (it) a lie, (know that) communities called (it) a lie before you. Nothing (depends) on the messenger except the clear delivery (of the message).’

worship Allah alone, with no partner or associate, to fear Him alone, to seek provision from Him alone, with no partner or associate, to give thanks to Him alone, for He is the One to Whom thanks should be given for the blessings which none can bestow but He. Ibrahim said to his people:

{Worship Allah, and have Taqwa of Him,} meaning worship Him and fear Him Alone, with all sincerity.

Quoted Scripture
"that is better for you if you know."

if you do that you will attain good in this world and the next, and you will prevent evil from yourselves in this world and the Hereafter.

Then Allah states that the idols which they worshipped were not able to do any harm or any good, and tells them, “You made up names for them and called them gods, but they are created beings just like you.” This interpretation was reported by Al-'Awfi from Ibn 'Abbas. It was also the view of Mujahid and As-Suddi. Al-Walibi reported from Ibn 'Abbas: “You invent falsehood, means, you carve idols,” which do not have the power to provide for you.

{so seek from Allah your provision,} This emphasizes the idea of asking Allah Alone. This is like the Ayat

{You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help.} (1:5)

And His saying:

{My Lord! Build for me, with You, a home in Paradise} (66:11).

Allah says here:

{so seek} meaning, ask for

{from Allah your provision,} meaning, do not seek it from anyone or anything other than Him, for no one else possesses the power to do anything.

Quoted Scripture
"and worship Him, and be grateful to Him."

Eat from what He has provided and worship Him Alone, and give thanks to Him for the blessings He has given you.

{To Him you will be brought back.} means, on the Day of Resurrection, when He will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.

His saying:

Quoted Scripture
"And if you deny, then nations before you have denied."

means, 'you have heard what happened to them by way of punishment for opposing the Messengers.'

Quoted Scripture
"And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey plainly."

All the Messengers have to do is to convey the Message as Allah has commanded them. Allah guides whoever He wills and leaves astray whoever He wills, so strive to be among the blessed. Qatadah said concerning the Ayah:

Quoted Scripture
"And if you deny, then nations before you have denied."

“These are words of consolation to His Prophet, peace be upon him.” This suggestion by Qatadah implies that the narrative (about Ibrahim) is interrupted here, and resumes with the words “And nothing was the answer of (Ibrahim's) people...” in Ayah 24. This was also stated by Ibn Jarir. From the context it appears that Ibrahim, peace be upon him, said all of what is in this section. Here he establishes proof against them that the Resurrection will indeed come to pass, because at the end of this passage it says:

{“And nothing was the answer of his people...”} (29:24)
And Allah knows best.

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.