No established hadith concerns Surah Ibrahim as a whole, but it is one of the Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Gospel, and authentic hadiths concern some of its verses: the prayer of Ibrahim that the Prophet ﷺ recited, weeping “O Allah, my nation!”, and the verse on Allah keeping the believers firm when questioned in the grave.
It is one of the Mathani given to the Prophet ﷺ in place of the Gospel, according to the hadith of Wathilah ibn al-Asqa’: “… and in place of the Gospel, the Mathani.”
A verse that made the Prophet ﷺ weep for his nation
The Prophet ﷺ recited the prayer of Ibrahim: “My Lord, they have led many people astray; whoever follows me is of me”, raised his hands, said “O Allah, my nation, my nation!” and wept; Allah sent Gabriel to tell him: “We will please you concerning your nation and will not grieve you.”
The Prophet ﷺ explained that the Muslim questioned in the grave testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger: this is the verse of this surah “Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word”.
When Aishah recited “The Day the earth will be changed into another earth, and the heavens as well”, she asked the Prophet ﷺ where people would be then; he said: “On the Sirat.”
Arabic text, translation, reference and authenticity grade of each hadith.
أن النبي ﷺ: تلا قول الله عز وجل في إبراهيم: (رب إنهن أضللن كثيرا من الناس فمن تبعني فإنه مني) الآية، وقال عيسى عليه السلام: (إن تعذبهم فإنهم عبادك وإن تغفر لهم فإنك أنت العزيز الحكيم)، فرفع يديه وقال: «اللهم أمتي أمتي»، وبكى، فقال الله عز وجل: «يا جبريل اذهب إلى محمد، وربك أعلم، فسله ما يبكيك؟» … فقال الله: «يا جبريل، اذهب إلى محمد، فقل:إنا سنرضيك في أمتك، ولا نسوءك»
The Prophet ﷺ recited the words of Allah about Ibrahim: “My Lord, they have led many people astray; whoever follows me is of me…” and the words of Jesus: “If You punish them, they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, You are the Almighty, the Wise.” He raised his hands, said: “O Allah, my nation, my nation!” and wept. Allah said: “O Gabriel, go to Muhammad, and your Lord knows best, and ask him what makes him weep.” … Then Allah said: “O Gabriel, go to Muhammad and tell him: We will please you concerning your nation and will not grieve you.”
المسلم إذا سئل في القبر، يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمداً رسول الله، فذلك قوله: (يثبت الله الذين آمنوا بالقول الثابت في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة)
When the Muslim is questioned in the grave, he testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; that is His saying: “Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word, in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.”
تلت عائشة هذه الآية: (يوم تبدل الأرض غير الأرض والسماوات)، قالت: يا رسول الله! فأين يكون الناس؟ قال: (على الصراط)
Aishah recited this verse: “The Day the earth will be changed into another earth, and the heavens as well” and said: “O Messenger of Allah, where will people be then?” He said: “On the Sirat.”
What the surah is about
Bringing people out of darkness into light through the revealed Book
The oneness of Allah, the only Lord, to whom all submission is due
Reminding of Allah’s favours, urging gratitude and warning against ingratitude
Consoling the Prophet ﷺ with the example of earlier prophets and their peoples
The parable of the good word and the evil word
Allah keeping the believers firm in this world and the Hereafter
The supplications of Ibrahim as a model of gratitude
Warning against the path of the wrongdoers and their state on the Day of Resurrection
Main purpose: To establish that the messengers explained and conveyed the message, and to threaten with punishment those who refuse to follow them.
About Surah Ibrahim
Surah Ibrahim is wholly Meccan according to most commentators. Fourteenth in the order of the Qur’an, it was revealed after Nuh and has fifty-two verses in the Kufan copy. It is named after the noble supplications that Ibrahim, peace be upon him, addressed to his Lord, and it has no other known name. It is reported from Ibn Abbas that two of its verses were revealed in Medina about those killed at Badr, but no reliable evidence supports this.
