53:37
QURANHIVE
Ayah focus

Ayah 53:37 — And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled

وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ

“And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled (his word or what was due of him)?”

Context

Background to verses 36 and 37

Knowledge neglected

The Arabs had lost the original teachings of Ibrahim (as) however the Jewish tribes of Arabia around Yathrib did have scriptures which included the teachings of Musa (as) and Ibrahim (as).

The opportunity was therefore present for the people addressed in these verses to have enquired from the Jews regarding the scriptures. This indicates that they had no desire to do that and made no effort.

These verses 36 and 37 are indicating to their lack of knowledge being based on them not wanting to know.

In addition, the Qur’an which they turned away from has preserved the legacies and guidance of Musa (as) and Ibrahim (as).

Suhuf

Suhuf (Scrolls) of Musa and Ibrahim

What was meant by the “scrolls,” and what core message they carried.

“The scriptures of Musa”

  • The Tawrah (Torah) or scriptures which were in the possession of the Jews did not have nearly any mention of the hereafter within them.
  • However, the Quranic discourse concerning Musa (as) repeatedly links to the hereafter.
  • We are learning implicitly that the scriptures of Musa (as) in their truest form is being provided to Muhammad ﷺ in the Qur’an and the original teachings of Ibrahim (as) in their truest form are being given to him ﷺ.
  • The Jewish religion believed that it was not meant to be shared with others but was only meant for them.
  • The message revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in contrast was meant for all mankind.

As such Islam shared knowledge of the scriptures which those who were followers of them did not share and yet those described in these verses are not coming to learn from him.

Not the extant traditions

Suhuf (scrolls) of Ibrahim and Musa which are being mentioned are unlikely to be referring to what remained in the peoples’ possession through Arab or Judeo-Christian tradition.

  • The reason: the Quranic discourse concerning both Musa (as) and Ibrahim (as) was focused upon the hereafter and Judgement Day, whilst their discourse concerning these Prophets does not contain any focus upon that.
  • This core message concerning the hereafter and Day of Judgement has been removed from the scriptures.

أَمْ لَمْ يُنَبَّأْ بِمَا فِي صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ

أَلَّا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ

i.e., that core message which was contained in the Suhuf of Musa and Ibrahim was related to the hereafter and that nobody will bear the burdens of another.

As such, even though the Ka’bah built by Ibrahim (as) is still there, the message that he brought has been taken away, and even though the Jews are present around Madinah, the message of Musa (as) has been taken away from and stripped of core elements.

Witness from Surah Al-Aa’laa

بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا (16) وَالْآَخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى (17) إِنَّ هَذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى (18) صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى

But you prefer the worldly life, (16) While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. (17) Indeed, this is in the former Suhuf (scriptures), (18) The Suhuf (scriptures/scrolls) of Ibrahim and Musa.

The Qur’an is saying that the original core and heart of the message of Ibrahim and Musa has been lost and is now being reclaimed by the Qur’an. The only true representation of the Suhuf of Ibrahim and Musa is what is contained in the Qur’an.

Meaning

“الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ” — The one who fulfilled

Ibrahim’s integrity, Quraish’s corruption

The Quraish believed that the Ka’bah was built by Ibrahim (as) but they also believed in the legitimacy of the idols. And so, this mention here is implicitly saying that Ibrahim (as) who fulfilled his word and was true to it, has nothing to do with the corruption of the Ka’bah perpetrated by the Quraish and is completely absolved from that.

His name may be mentioned upon your tongues, but you cannot ascribe yourselves to his legacy which is pure from you.

The Qur’an corrects how religions have corrupted the legacies of the Prophets by reclaiming Musa (as) from the Jews, ‘Isa (as) from the Christians and Ibrahim (as) from the Mushrikoon (polytheists) and then presenting the real truth about them without the corruption that they invented and added.

Submission and tests fulfilled

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

When his Lord said to him: “Submit”, he said: “I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds” (Al-Baqarah: 131).

Or Allah would test him and he would fulfil all those tests.

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ

“And [recall] when Abraham was tested by his Lord with words, and he fulfilled them” (2:124).

Ibn ‘Aashur: “As what the Scrolls of Ibrahim contained were the very ‘words’ with which Allah tested Ibrahim ... i.e., He conveyed them to his people and to those who believed in him. Thus, those words became a law for him and for those who followed him”.
Core message

Hereafter and personal accountability

Judgement Day focus

The Quranic discourse concerning both Musa (as) and Ibrahim (as) was focused upon the hereafter and Judgement Day.

“Nobody who carries a burden will carry the burden of anyone else”

A succinct statement of personal responsibility embedded in the Suhuf of Musa and Ibrahim.

Qur’an as preservation

The Qur’an has preserved the legacies and guidance of Musa (as) and Ibrahim (as), reclaiming the original core and heart of their message.

Connection

Ibrahim (as), Musa (as) and the Seerah

The mention of Ibrahim (as) and Musa (as) have a strong connection to the Seerah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

  • The mission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is connected to the original legacy of Ibrahim (as) and the restoration of that legacy.
  • Whilst in the form that it takes, the Seerah of the Messenger ﷺ is connected to that of Musa (as).

As such, those two Prophets have a very deep connection to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his mission.

Ayah 37