As-Saffat · Makki · ayah 101 of 182

As-Saffat 37:101

فَبَشَّرْنَـٰهُ بِغُلَـٰمٍ حَلِيمٍ

“So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.”

Saheeh International

Essence

Allah answers Ibrahim's prayer with good news of a boy, and names his character before his birth: ḥalīm, strong enough to hold himself back.

A reflection

The quality Allah rarely names

Of all the qualities Allah could have announced for this child, He chose one: ḥalīm. One classical commentator observes that Allah describes the prophets with forbearance less than with almost any other quality, because it is so rare. He gives it to Ibrahim twice: 'Ibrahim was forbearing, tender-hearted' (9:114; 11:75). And He gives it here to his son. Another commentator adds that the coming test proved the forbearance of both.

What is ḥilm? The lexicons describe holding oneself and one's nature back from the surge of anger, the opposite of rashness. One work on fine distinctions between words adds a careful line. Every act of forbearance involves a delay, but not every delay is forbearance. Delay can be weakness or indecision. Ḥilm is strength choosing not to hurry. This is an established sense.

Picture a late-night bus. A drunk passenger stumbles on, refuses to pay, and starts insulting the driver loudly, personally, in front of everyone. The driver could stop the bus and have him removed. He has every right. Instead he keeps his voice level, lets him sit at the front, and drives on. At the next stop the man gets off muttering. Most passengers never noticed what the driver held back.

That is the quality announced here, before the child was even born. The surah will soon show it under the heaviest pressure imaginable. His father will tell him of the dream. The boy will answer: 'Father, do what you are commanded; you will find me, Allah willing, among the patient' (37:102).

We usually praise children for being clever or confident. The Quran praises this one for restraint. It is worth asking which we cultivate more in ourselves: the ability to react, or the strength not to.

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.