Transliteration:( Maa kaana Ibraaheemu Yahoodiyyanw wa laa Nasraa niyyanw wa laakin kaana Haneefam Muslimanw wa maa kaana minal mushrikeen )
"Ebrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was an upright Muslim [144], inclined towards truth, and he was not at all of the polytheists."
This verse firmly refutes the false claims of both Jews and Christians that Ibrahim (AS) belonged exclusively to their religion.
It clarifies that he was a Hanif Muslim—one who:
Turned away from all falsehood,
Submitted entirely to Allah,
And remained far from shirk (polytheism).
From this, two important lessons arise:
Definition of a Muslim:
Linguistically, every Prophet can be called a Muslim, meaning one who submits to Allah.
As the Qur'an says:
“Then when they both submitted (aslamā) to My command…” (Surah 37:103)
But technically, in Islamic theology, the term "Muslim" is now applied to only the followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as per:
“He has named you Muslims…” (Surah 22:78)
Purity in Faith Requires Separation from Falsehood:
The word “Hanif” signifies someone who actively rejects all falsehood and deviates from misguided communities.
A true Muslim is not passive—they oppose falsehood and uphold truth with purity and conviction.
Just like pure gold has great value in the world, a pure Muslim will have immense worth in the Hereafter.
The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 67 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 65 which provides the complete commentary from verse 65 through 68.
(3:67) Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was a Muslim, wholly devoted to God.[59] And he certainly was not amongst those who associate others with Allah in His divinity.
59. The word hanif denotes someone who turns his face away from all other directions in order to follow one particular course. We have tried to convey this sense through the expression: ‘a Muslim, wholly devoted to God’.
[129]- Those who associate others with Allāh.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics