Maryam · Makki · ayah 47 of 98

Maryam 19:47

قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكَ ۖ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِى حَفِيًّا

“[Abraham] said, "Peace [i.e., safety] will be upon you.[815] I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Threatened with stones, Ibrahim promises his father safety from himself and a prayer to his Lord, the One who has always seen to his lodging.

A reflection

He answered a threat with a promise of safety

Many readers hear salāmun ʿalayk as a polite goodbye, or even as Ibrahim giving up. The conversation is over; he says 'peace' and walks away.

The commentaries read far more into those two words. One explains them plainly: as for me, no harm and no hurt will reach you from me, because of the sanctity of fatherhood. His father has just threatened to stone him. Ibrahim answers by promising his father safety from himself.

Another commentator calls it a farewell and a leaving-be, the kind of peace described elsewhere. The servants of the Merciful, when the ignorant address them, say 'peace' (25:63). He adds two lessons. It is permissible to leave someone who persists in refusing advice. And it is beautiful to meet harm with good.

Then comes the half most readers forget. Sa-astaghfiru laka rabbī: I will ask my Lord to forgive you. One commentator notes that this shows his compassion remained exactly as it was, even as he left. Another explains the request: I will ask Allah to guide you and forgive your sins.

So the shape of the ayah is not 'goodbye'. It is: you will be safe from me, and I will keep asking for you. Distance in the body; closeness in the prayer.

Hear it as the Makkans heard it. They were threatening the Prophet ﷺ. Here was their ancestor, threatened by his own father, answering with peace and a promise to pray. The story told them what kind of man they claimed to descend from, and what kind of answer they were getting.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.