An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 125 of 176

An-Nisa 4:125

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا

“And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend.”

Saheeh International

Essence

None lives a finer faith than one who gives his whole self to Allah, does good, and walks the way of Ibrahim, Allah's intimate friend.

A reflection

The King who took a friend

The next ayah will say that everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah (4:126). Two classical commentators read the two together. He took Ibrahim as friend for his obedience, they say, not from any need. How could the Owner of everything need anyone? Yet here He says: wa-ttakhadha Allāhu Ibrāhīma khalīlā. And Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate friend.

The classical commentators handle the word with care. Some take it as a figure: Allah chose Ibrahim and honoured him the way a friend honours a friend. Others take it as a real rank of love, the highest. All agree on the plain sense: Allah singled him out with a closeness given to few. This app does not argue for one school over another here.

Why Ibrahim? One classical commentator lists what he gave. He handed himself over to the fire, his son to the sacrifice, and his wealth to his guests. Sahih al-Bukhari records that when he was thrown into the fire, he said: Allah is enough for us, and He is the best Guardian.

That is the picture of an emptied ego. Nothing held back for himself. 'Submit,' his Lord said; he answered, 'I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds' (2:131).

Does the King need a friend? No. He is free of all need (35:15). The friendship is pure honour, poured down, not drawn up.

And that should humble us twice. Once, because the greatest human rank is reached by the least self-regard. And again, because the door is not closed. The leading commentator even voices the invitation in Allah's name. So hasten to My pleasure and love, that I may take you as My allies too. The next lines open that road to every reader.

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.