Al-Anbya · Makki · ayah 57 of 112

Al-Anbya 21:57

وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَـٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ

“And [I swear] by Allāh, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."”

Saheeh International

Essence

When words were not enough, Ibrahim swore a quiet oath to act, chose his moment, and trusted Allah to make an impossible thing easy.

A reflection

An oath with wonder in it

Wa ta-Allāhi: and by Allah. Arabic has several ways to swear an oath, and this one is unusual. One commentator explains that the letter tā is used only with the name of Allah, and that it carries an extra shade of meaning: wonder. It is as though Ibrahim marvelled at how easily the plan came within reach of his hand. The thing had seemed hopeless. A young man, alone, against the idols of a whole people under a mighty, arrogant king. Yet it became possible.

The same commentator quotes a line of poetry: when Allah loosens the knot of a thing, it becomes easy. Another commentary hears the wonder differently, as amazement at himself for daring such a risk. Either way, the oath is not bravado. It is astonishment that what was impossible is about to happen.

Picture a group of parents who spent six years campaigning for a safe crossing outside their children's school. Letters, petitions, meetings, a local news story. Nothing moved. Most of them gave up. Then one Tuesday morning a council lorry pulls up unannounced, and by evening there are lights, railings and a painted crossing. The mother who started the campaign stands on the pavement and laughs, not quite believing it.

That laugh is close to the tā in this ayah. Many believers carry knots they have stopped expecting to loosen. A habit that has defeated them for years. A family rift. A debt. A fear. The oath of Ibrahim is a reminder that difficulty is not decided by our estimate of it. When Allah loosens the knot, it gives. Keep asking Him to loosen yours.

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.