Day 138 · Surah Ibrahim Verses 1-10

Ibrahim 1–10

The Qur'an is sent down to bring mankind out of darkness into light, and Musa reminds his people of the blessings of deliverance from Pharaoh and the promise that gratitude increases blessings while disbelief brings punishment.

This surah is opened with disconnected letters whose meaning was never explained by the Messenger or the Companions, so the majority of scholars have referred it to Allah.
Hell is appointed for those who reject the Qur'an, namely those who love the world more than the Hereafter, prevent people from Allah's path, and desire that the religion be crooked.
Every messenger was sent with the language of his people so the revelation would be clear to them, while the Prophet Muhammad brought the Qur'an in Arabic that applies to all mankind.
Musa reminds his people of the salvation from Pharaoh who slaughtered their sons, and then conveys that gratitude increases blessings while disbelief results in painful punishment.
They are urged to take lessons from the people of Nuh, 'Ad, Thamud, and other nations that were destroyed for rejecting the messengers and insisting on inherited beliefs.

Verse 1 of Surah Ibrahim is preceded by three Arabic letters, namely alif, lam, and ra. In the Qur'an there are 29 surahs that begin with such combinations of letters. No one knows their meaning except Allah. The Messenger never explained their meaning. Similarly, the Companions of the Messenger, to whom the Qur'an was first revealed, never explained what they meant. Therefore, the majority of scholars do not dare to interpret them. They only say: Allah knows their meaning.

Verses 1-5 of Surah Ibrahim explain:

The Qur'an was revealed by Allah to bring mankind out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of Islam. That is Allah's path.
Allah is the Owner of all that is in the heavens and earth. He has appointed Hell for those who disbelieve (reject) the Qur'an, namely those who love the life of this world more than the Hereafter, prevent people from Allah's path (Islam), and desire that Islam be crooked or corrupted.
Every Messenger was sent with the language of his people so the revelation sent to them would be clear. As for the Messenger, he was sent with the Qur'an in clear Arabic that applies to all mankind.
Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills, for He is Almighty and All-Wise.
Allah sent Musa as His messenger with various proofs of His greatness and power. Musa's duty was to bring his people out of the darkness of ignorance into the light (religion) of Allah and remind them of the various blessings and greatness of Allah. All this is proof of Allah's greatness to those who are patient and grateful.

Verses 6-10 explain Musa's preaching to his people and the terrible consequences if they reject his preaching. Among them:

Reminder of Allah's blessing upon them when Allah saved them from the evil deeds of Pharaoh such as torturing them with severe torment, slaughtering their sons and leaving their daughters alive. Allah made these various torments a trial for them to see who among them would be patient and steadfast in faith.
If they are grateful for these blessings of Allah, then Allah will increase His blessings upon them, but if they disbelieve, then Allah will punish them with very painful punishment.
Should Musa's people and all mankind disbelieve in Allah, it will not diminish Allah's wealth and glory in the slightest.
Inviting them to take lessons from the nations before them; the people of Nuh, the people of 'Ad, the people of Thamud, and other peoples who were destroyed by Allah. The reason they were punished and destroyed by Allah was only because they did not want to believe in the messengers of Allah and openly rejected the revelation He sent. Besides that, they doubted that the preaching of the messengers could bring blessings in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
The factors that caused these disbelieving people to doubt the messengers were their doubt in Allah who created the heavens and earth. Yet if they would believe, Allah would forgive their sins and defer them from punishment until an appointed term. Another factor was accusing the messengers of preventing them from worshipping gods and following the ways of their ancestors, which they had come to love greatly. That is why they demanded material or tangible miracles as proof.

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