Surah Al An'aam Notes (80-87)

(6:80) [...Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me?...]
Ibn Kathir writes in his tafseer as to what Ibrahim (as) meant by this ayat, "do you argue with me about Allah, other than Whom there is no god worthy of worship, while He has guided me to the Truth and made me aware of it Therefore, how can I ever consider your misguided statements and false doubts?."

 [...and I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship...] Ibrahim said, among the proofs to the falsehood of your creed, is that these false gods that you worship do not bring about any effect, and I do not fear them or care about them. Therefore, if these gods are able to cause harm, then use them against me and do not give me respite.

Only Allah causes benefit or harm.

Allah's knowledge encompasses all things and nothing escapes His complete observation.

[...will you not then remember...] You threaten me with your idols although they have no power over me. While Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala is All-Knowing and All-Powerful, then who should be at peace and who should be fearful? Those who worship Him in Whose Hand is harm and benefit, or those who worship what cannot bring harm or benefit? Who among these two parties has more right to be saved from Allah’s torment on the Day of Resurrection? Re-consider your idol worship and refrain from worshipping them.

(6:81)[...And how should I fear those whom you associate...] means, how should I fear the idols that you worship instead of Allah,

[...while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any Sultan...] meaning, proof

In ayah 81, two parties are mentioned.

• Those who worship Him in Whose Hand is harm and benefit. 
• Those who worship what cannot bring harm or benefit, without authority to justify worshipping them

Which of the two parties have more right to security?

The answer to this question is in Ayah 82.

(6:82) Shirk is the greatest zulm

Only those who believe in Allah and then do not go on to mix up their faith with injustice shall be the people who can hope to be safe against punishment. They are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter. Here, Zulm [injustice] refers to Shirk [associating partners with Allah].

Therefore, those who worship Allah alone without partners, will acquire safety on the Day of Resurrection, and they are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter.

(6:83) This was a special favor of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. Sometimes we are in an argument with someone and we don’t know how to defend our religion. We are completely blank. At other times, Ayaat of the Qur’an come naturally to our mind and we can cite proper examples. This is a sign that it is Allah Who is inspiring us. There’s nothing great about us. For our intelligence, our understanding of a matter or our art of oration are all gifts of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. We wouldn’t have acquired them had Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala not willed for us.

(6:84) Special favors on Prophet Ibrahim.

Allah states that after Ibrahim became old and he, and his wife, Sarah, lost hope of having children, He gave them Ishaq. The angels came to Ibrahim on their way to the people of Prophet Lut (to destroy them) and they delivered the good news of a child to Ibrahim and his wife. Ibrahim's wife was amazed at the news.The angels also gave them the good news that Ishaq will be a Prophet and that he will have offspring of his own. meaning, this child will have another child in your lifetime, so that your eyes are comforted by him, just as your eyes will be comforted by his father. Certainly, one becomes jubilant and joyous when he becomes a grandfather, because this means that his offspring will continue to exist. It was also expected that if an elderly couple had children, due to the child's weakness, he would have no offspring. This is why Allah delivered the good news of Ishaq and of his son Ya`qub, whose name literally means `multiplying and having offspring'. This was a reward for Ibrahim who left his people and migrated from their land so that he could worship Allah alone. Allah compensated Ibrahim with better than his people and tribe when He gave him righteous children of his own, who would follow his religion, so that his eyes would be comforted by them. 

Qualities of Nooh and Ibrahim

Each of these two Prophets had special qualities. When Allah caused the people of the earth to drown, except those who believed in Nuh and accompanied him in the ark, Allah made the offspring of Nuh the dwellers of the earth thereafter. Ever since that occurred, the people of the earth were and still are the descendants of Nuh. As for Ibrahim, Allah did not send a Prophet after him but from his descendants.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala states that He guided Ibraheem `alayhi salaam and his descendants and He guided Prophet Nuh `alayhi salaam and his descendants. Each of these two Prophets had special qualities. Both of them promoted Tahweed in the midst of Shirk. Both of them were rewarded with righteous offsprings. Prophet Dawoud, Suleiman, Ayoob, Yusuf, Musa and Haroon `alayhi salaam were all Prophets of Allah. What was the beauty of their worship? All of them were alone at some point, and they chose to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala. When they sacrificed for the sake of Allah, He rewarded them in the dunya and in the Hereafter too they will have rewards.

(6:85) Continuing talking about the righteous descendants, Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala mentions the names of Prophet Zakariya, Yahya, `Eesa and Ilyas `alayhi salaam.

Mentioning `Eesa `alayhi salaam in the offspring of Ibraheem or Nuh is proof that the grandchildren from a man’s daughter are included among his offspring. `Eesa is included among Ibraheem’s progeny through his mother.

(6:86)Ibraheem `alayhi salaam was awarded many righteous descendants. Lut `alayhi salaam was not direct offspring of Ibraheem `alayhi salaam but the son of his brother. In order to keep the text general the word has not been altered in the ayaat.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala ends the ayah by saying that He preferred them over all the world? How did He prefer them over the worlds? By blessing them with Prophethood. 

(6:87)It was not just Prophet Nuh and Ibraheem and their descendants who were chosen but also their forefathers, their descendants and their brothers. They were all guided to the straight path. As a family there were dedicated in the Deen. Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala gave them the tawfeeq to follow the path of guidance. He gives guidance to whomever He wills.