Reverting to Islam is one of the most difficult and ultimate decision in the life of the non-Muslims. Not only they are hesitant to leave the religion adopted by their parents and ancestors, they are also afraid of fear of annoying their friends and families, or even face a strong and hostile backlash This has been so with all those back in the history who embraced the fold of Islam despite stubborn resistance from their families. Even prophets were not spared when they renounced the religion and faith of their ancestors. Yet, once faith in One True God, Allah the Almighty, had permeated in their souls, there was never looking back even at the cost of leaving their families.
Today, we share the 48th verse of Surah Maryam (19:48) which recounts a powerful moment in the life of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him), reflecting his unwavering faith in Allah and his rejection of polytheism, even if it meant parting ways with his own people and family.
وَ اَعۡتَزِلُـكُمۡ وَمَا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَاَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّىۡ ۖ عَسٰٓى اَلَّاۤ اَكُوۡنَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّىۡ شَقِيًّا
(19:48) I shall withdraw from you and all that you call upon beside Allah. I shall only call upon my Lord. I trust the prayer to my Lord will not go unanswered."
Context and Explanation:
This verse occurs in the narrative where Prophet Ibrahim is addressing his father and his people. He had persistently called them to the worship of Allah alone and warned them against idol worship. When they rejected his message, mocked him, and even threatened him, he declared his disassociation from their practices and affirmed his commitment to worshipping Allah alone.
The Background to the Verse
Abraham’s appeal, made in the most compassionate language, cannot however find its way to his father’s hardened heart. The father retorts with rejection and threats: Are you renouncing my gods, Abraham? If you do not desist, I shall most certainly have you stoned. Now begone from me for good! (Verse 46)
His father’s answer was harsh, arrogant and threatening. He considered Abraham’s rejection of idols to be impertinent. It was a crime for which Abraham deserved a cruel punishment: i.e. death by stoning. Hence, he advised him to stay away, or else punishment would be forthcoming.
It is with such ignorance and cruelty that the father replies to the son’s passionate and polite appeal. No regard is given for the son’s care and concern for his father. This is indeed the pattern of response that advocates of faith receive from those who are hardened by disbelief and lack of guidance.
Abraham, however, does not allow anger to dictate his attitude. He does not lose sight of his dutifulness to his father. Hence, he continues to address him with respect and compassion: Abraham replied: Peace be on you. I shall pray to my Lord to forgive you; for He has always been very kind to me. But I shall withdraw from you all and from whatever you invoke instead of God, and I shall pray to my Lord alone. Perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord I shall not be unblesset. (Verses 47-48)
Abraham makes it clear that he will not respond to the threat, nor will he indulge in futile argument. He promises his father to pray to God to forgive him and not to punish him by allowing him to go further astray. He will pray to God to have mercy on his father and guide him to the truth. He tells him that he is used to God’s generous favours, as He answers his prayers. Then he adds that if his own presence and appeal irritate his father, then he will withdraw, leave his father and people, abandoning the deities they invoke instead of God. He will only worship God alone, hoping that by doing so he will avoid being unblesset. Such is a believer’s politeness and humility. Abraham does not feel that he is deserving of favours from God more than being spared misery, unhappiness and withdrawal of blessings.
Scholarly Commentary:
Ibn Kathir explains this verse in his Tafsir by noting that Ibrahim’s abandonment of his people’s idols and his exclusive devotion to Allah were not just symbolic, but also physical—he left them geographically and spiritually. His optimism in prayer shows the hallmark of a believer’s connection with Allah: hope, certainty, and reliance.
Javed Ahmed Ghamidi notes: Besides the affection found in this declaration of acquittal by Abraham (sws), it also shows his immense honour and regard for the truth. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:
The emphasis, self-confidence and self-sufficiency seen in this declaration of acquittal is evident from every word. In the first place, Abraham (sws) used the plural form وَ اَعْتَزِلُكُمْ which shows that he not only proclaimed acquittal from his father but also from all his companions, associates and members of the family. With it, by uttering the words وَمَا تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ (and those also whom you call instead of God) he included all their deities in the declaration. It was as if he rejected them as well. Then he did not merely give a negative statement. He followed it up with a positive one: وَ اَدْعُوْا رَبِّيْ (I will only call my Lord) implying that he did not recognize any other deity. At the end, he expressed his unshakable trust in the Almighty by saying that he had never been deprived after calling his Lord and it was hoped that He would help and guide him in that trial as well. On the one hand, is this softness and, on the other, this sternness. It is in fact this amalgam of soft and stern attitude which distinguishes a preacher of truth from others. Unless a person is soft as wax and hard as a rock, he cannot serve the cause of truth in any way. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 4, 660)
Key Lessons:
- True faith may require personal sacrifice.
- Ibrahim’s trust in Allah shows the power of dua (supplication).
- Believers should never feel hopeless when making dua to Allah.
A cue for those mulling to revert to Islam
- This verse and the verses before it show a dialogue between a father worshipping idols and a son whose new found faith in one true God. The power of faith Prophet Abraham acquired was so strong that he even dared to stand in front of his father and his people denouncing their worship of idols and calling them to worship Allah alone. When his call was not heeded to to, he took a bold and ultimate decision of his life to follow Allah alone who he truly believed was the only Lord of the World to be worshipped.
- Those non Muslims, who have been living a life of worshipping more than one gods are now finding peace by reverting to Islam for Islam is the only religion which talks of One True God without any associates and partners.
- There have been many instances where the families turned against the reverts and even cut off from life. But there also many instances that the families, which once showed hostility and utter annoyance of their near and dear one embracing Islam, also started to understand the true reality and reverted to Islam.
- So those mulling to revert to Islam must absorb the true reality that Islam propagates and embrace Islam so that their hearts are put at ease and they find hope as did Prophet Abraham did, In sha Allah
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
For more selected verse on Da'wah, please refer to our reference page: Da'wah - The Invitation to Non-Muslims to Islam
You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Faith in Allah
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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