Transliteration:( Summma awhainaa ilaika anit tabi' Millata Ibraaheema haneefaa; wa maa kaana minal mushrikeen )
123. Then We revealed to you that you should follow the faith of Ibrahim [273], who was separate from all falsehood and was not a polytheist [274].
[273] The term “follow” here implies conformity and agreement rather than mere obedience in the usual sense. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not a follower of Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in a subordinate way, but rather, the religion taught and established by the Prophet fully conforms to the pure monotheistic faith of Ibrahim. Thus, Islam aligns perfectly with the original religion of Ibrahim, free from all innovations and falsehood.
[274] This verse highlights the immense blessing of Allah in choosing the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from the lineage of Ibrahim. Islam was revealed as a continuation and confirmation of Ibrahim’s monotheistic faith, which brought universal recognition and clarity.
It is noteworthy that while many prophets are mentioned by name, others remain unknown. This verse also implies that even before his prophethood, Muhammad (peace be upon him) naturally adhered to the pure religion of Ibrahim, abstaining entirely from forbidden acts, showing his inherent purity and devotion to Allah.
The tafsir of Surah An-Nahl verse 123 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Nahl ayat 120 which provides the complete commentary from verse 120 through 123.
(16:123) Then We revealed to you: “Follow the way of Abraham with exclusive devotion to Allah. He was not one of those who associated others[120] with Allah in His Divinity.”
120. This is the complete answer to the first objection (Surah An-Nahl, ayat 118) note 117 raised by the disbelievers. This has two parts.
(1) There is no contradiction in the divine law as you seem to presume on the apparent variance in the Jewish and the Islamic Law. As a matter of fact a few things had been made unlawful especially for the Jews as punishment to them because of their disobedience; therefore, there was no reason why others should be deprived of those good things.
(2) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was commanded to follow the way of Abraham and not the way of the Jews, and they themselves knew that these things were not unlawful in the law of Abraham. For instance, the Jews did not eat the flesh of camel but this was lawful according to Abraham. Likewise, ostrich, hare, duck, etc. were unlawful in the Jewish law, but they were lawful according to Abraham. Incidentally the disbelievers of Makkah have been warned that neither they nor the Jews had any relationship with Prophet Abraham for he was not a mushrik while both of them were practicing shirk. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers were the only true followers of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) for there was no tinge of shirk in their creed or in their practice.
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