Surah Ash Shu'ara Notes (83-87)

Source: Ibn Kathir

The Prayer of Ibrahim for Himself and for His Father

(83) My Lord! Bestow Hukman (religious knowledge, right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) on me, and join me with the righteous;

Here Ibrahim, upon him be peace, asks his Lord to give him Hukm. Ibn `Abbas said, "This is knowledge.''

(and join me with the righteous.) means, `make me one of the righteous in this world and the Hereafter.'

(84) And grant me an honourable mention in later generations;

(And grant me an honorable mention in later generations.) meaning, `cause me to be remembered in a good manner after my death, so that I will be spoken of and taken as a good example.' This is like the Ayah,

(And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later generations: "Salam (peace) be upon Ibrahim. Thus indeed do we reward the good doers.) (37:108-110)

(85) And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight;

(And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.) meaning, `bless me in this world with honorable mention after I am gone, and in the Hereafter by making me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight.'

(86) And forgive my father, verily he is of the erring;

(And forgive my father,) This is like the Ayah,

(My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents) (71:28). But this is something which Ibrahim, peace be upon him, later stopped doing, 

(87) And disgrace me not on the Day when (all the creatures) will be resurrected;

(And disgrace me not on the Day when they will be resurrected.) means, `protect me from shame on the Day of Resurrection and the Day when all creatures, the first and the last, will be raised.' 

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet said: (Ibrahim will see his father on the Day of Resurrection, covered with dust and darkness.) 

According to another narration, also from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet said: (Ibrahim will meet his father and will say: "O Lord, You promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day when all creatures are resurrected.'' And Allah will say to him: "I have forbidden Paradise to the disbelievers.'') 

He also recorded this in the Hadiths about the Prophets, upon them be peace, where the wording is: (Ibrahim will meet his father Azar on the Day of Resurrection, and there will be dust and darkness on Azar's face. Ibrahim will say to him, "Did I not tell you not to disobey me'' His father will say to him: "Today I will not disobey you.'' Ibrahim will say: "O Lord, You promised me that You would not disgrace me on the Day when they are resurrected, but what disgrace can be greater than seeing my father in this state'' Allah will say to him: "I have forbidden Paradise to the disbelievers.'' Then it will be said: "O Ibrahim! Look beneath your feet.'' So he will look and there he will see (that his father was changed into) a male hyena covered in dung, which will be caught by the legs and thrown in the Fire.) This was also recorded by Abu `Abdur-Rahman An-Nasa'i in the Tafsir of his Sunan Al-Kubra.