Surah 38

Surah 38:45

"And remember Our servants Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob: endowed with strength and vision."
The Chosen and the Best among the Prophets Verses 38:45-49
Show Full Scripture Context (38:45-49) — 5 Verses
Verse 45

وَٱذۡكُرۡ عِبَٰدَنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ أُوْلِي ٱلۡأَيۡدِي وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرِ

And remember Our servants Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob: endowed with strength and vision.

Verse 46

إِنَّآ أَخۡلَصۡنَٰهُم بِخَالِصَةٖ ذِكۡرَى ٱلدَّارِ

Surely We purified them with a pure (thought): remembrance of the Home.

Verse 47

وَإِنَّهُمۡ عِندَنَا لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُصۡطَفَيۡنَ ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِ

Surely with Us they are indeed among the chosen, the good.

Verse 48

وَٱذۡكُرۡ إِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلۡيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلۡكِفۡلِۖ وَكُلّٞ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَخۡيَارِ

And remember Our servants Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhū-l-Kifl: each (of them) was one of the good.

Verse 49

هَٰذَا ذِكۡرٞۚ وَإِنَّ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ لَحُسۡنَ مَـَٔابٖ

This is a Reminder. Surely for the ones who guard (themselves) (there is) indeed a good (place of) return:

Allah tells us about the virtues of His servants the Messengers and His Prophets: "And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya'qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar." meaning, righteous deeds, beneficial knowledge, strength in worship and insight. 'Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Ulil-Aydi" "Of great strength and worship;" "wal-Absar" means, understanding of the religion." Qatadah and As-Suddi said, "They were given strength in worship and understanding of the religion." "Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode." Mujahid said, "This means: We made them strive for the Hereafter, and there is nothing else for them besides that." As-Suddi also said, "The remembrance of the Hereafter and striving for it." Malik bin Dinar said, "Allah removed the love of this world from their hearts, and singled them out for land remembrance of the Hereafter." Qatadah said, "They used to remind the people about the Abode of the Hereafter and to strive for it." "And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best!" means, they are among those who have been elected and chosen, and they are the best and the chosen ones. "And remember Isma'il, Al-Yasa', and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best." We have already discussed their characteristics and stories in detail in Surat Al-Anbiya', may peace be upon them, and there is no need to repeat it here. "This is a Reminder" means, a reminder to those who will be reminded. As-Suddi said, "This means the Holy Qur'an."

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.