Surah Al-Baqarah 2:124

Ibrahim Al-Khalil was an Imam for the People

Allah is informing us of the honor of Ibrahim Al-Khalil, who He made an Imam for the people, and a model to be imitated, because of the way he conducted himself and adhered to Tawhid. This honor was given to Prophet Ibrahim when he adhered to Allah's decisions and prohibitions. This is why Allah said,

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ

(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (i.e., Allah) tried him with (certain) commands).

This Ayah means, O Muhammad! Remind the idolators and the People of the Scriptures, who pretend to be followers of the religion of Ibrahim, while in reality they do not follow it, while you, O Muhammad, and your followers are the true followers of his religion; remind them of the commands and prohibitions that Allah tested Ibrahim with.

فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ

(which he fulfilled.) indicating that Ibrahim implemented all of Allah's orders. Allah said in another Ayah,

وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى

(And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey)) (53:37)

meaning, he was truthful and he was obedient to Allah's legislation. Also, Allah said,

إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - شَاكِراً لانْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَـهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ - وَءاتَيْنَـهُ فِى الْدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّـلِحِينَ - ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah (or a nation), obedient to Allah, Hanif (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikin (polytheists), (He was) thankful for His (Allah's) favors. He (Allah) chose him and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he shall be of the righteous. Then, We have sent the revelation to you (O Muhammad saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim Hanif (Islamic Monotheism ـ to worship none but Allah) and he was not of the Mushrikin.) (16:120-123)

قُلْ إِنَّنِى هَدَانِى رَبِّى إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

(Say (O Muhammad ): "Truly, my Lord has guided me to a straight path, a right religion, the religion of Ibrahim, Hanifan, and Ibrahim (to worship none but Allah, alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin.") (6:161) and,

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلاَ نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ - إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِىُّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَاللَّهُ وَلِىُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism ـ to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikin. Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad ) and those who have believed (Muslims). And Allah is the Wali (Protector and Helper) of the believers) (3:67-68).

Allah said,

بِكَلِمَـتِ

(with Kalimat (words)) which means, "Laws, commandments and prohibitions." `Words' as mentioned here, sometimes refers to what Allah has willed, such as Allah's statement about Maryam,

وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـتِ رَبَّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَـنِتِينَ

(And she testified to the truth of the Words of her Lord, and (also believed in) His Scriptures, and she was of the Qanitin (i.e. obedient to Allah)) (66:12).

"Words" also refers to Allah's Law, such as Allah's statement,

وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً

(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice) (6:115) meaning, His legislation. "Words" also means truthful news, or a just commandment or prohibition. For instance, Allah said,

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ

(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim tried him with (certain) Words (commands), which he fulfilled) meaning, he adhered to them, Allah said,

إِنِّى جَـعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا

("Verily, I am going to make you an Imam (a leader) for mankind (to follow you).") as a reward for Ibrahim's good deeds, adhering to the commandments and avoiding the prohibitions. This is why Allah made Ibrahim a role model for the people, and an Imam whose conduct and path are imitated and followed.

What were the Words that Ibrahim was tested with

There is a difference of opinion over the words that Allah tested Ibrahim with. There are several opinions attributed to Ibn `Abbas. For instance, `Abdur-Razzaq said that Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah tested him with the rituals (of Hajj)." Abu Ishaq reported the same. `Abdur-Razzaq also narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that,

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ

(And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) (i.e., Allah) tried him with (certain) commands) means, "Allah tested him with Taharah (purity, ablution): five on the head and five on the body. As for the head, they are cutting the mustache, rinsing the mouth, inhaling and discarding water, using Siwak and parting the hair. As for the body, they are trimming the nails, shaving the pubic hair, circumcision and plucking under the arm and washing with water after answering the call of nature." Ibn Abi Hatim said, "A similar statement was also reported from Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Mujahid, Ash-Sha`bi, An-Nakha`i, Abu Salih, Abu Al-Jald, and so forth."

There is a similar statement that Imam Muslim narrated from `A'ishah who said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,

«عَشْرٌ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ: قَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَإِعْفَاءُ اللِّحْيَةِ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَاسْتِنْشَاقُ الْمَاءِ وَقَصُّ الْأَظْفَارِ وَغَسْلُ الْبَرَاجِمِ وَنَتْفُ الْإِبْطِ وَحَلْقُ الْعَانَةِ وَانْتِقَاصُ الْمَاءِ وَنَسِيتُ الْعَاشِرَةَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ الْمَضْمَضَة»

(Ten are among the Fitrah (instinct, natural constitution): trimming the mustache, growing the beard, using Siwak, inhaling and then exhaling water (in ablution), cutting the nails, washing between the fingers (in ablution), plucking the underarm hair, shaving the pubic hair, washing with water after answering the call of nature, (and I forgot the tenth, I think it was) rinsing the mouth (in ablution).)

The Two Sahihs recorded Abu Hurayrah saying that the Prophet said,

«الْفِطْرَةُ خَمْسٌ: الْخِتَانُ وَالْاسْتِحْدَادُ وَقَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَتَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ وَنَتْفُ الْإِبْط»

(Five are among the acts of Fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the mustache, cutting the nails and plucking the underarm hair.) This is the wording with Muslim.

Muhammad bin Ishaq reportd that Ibn `Abbas said, "The words that Allah tested Ibrahim with, and that he implemented were: abandoning his (disbelieving) people when Allah commanded him to do so, disputing with Nimrod (king of Babylon) about Allah, being patient when he was thrown in the fire (although this was extremely traumatic) migrating from his homeland when Allah commanded him to do so, patience with the monetary and material demands of hosting guests by Allah's command, and Allah's order for him to slaughter his son. When Allah tested Ibrahim with these words, and he was ready for the major test, Allah said to him,

أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

("Submit (be a Muslim)!" He said, "I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of all that exists. ") (2:131) although this meant defying and being apart from the people."

The Unjust do not qualify for Allah's Promise

Allah said that Ibrahim said,

وَمِن ذُرِّيَتِى

(And of my offspring (to make leaders)) and Allah replied,

لاَ يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّـلِمِينَ

(My covenant (prophethood) includes not Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers)).

When Allah made Ibrahim an Imam (Leader for the faithful), he asked Allah that Imams thereafter be chosen from his offspring. Allah accepted his supplication, but told him that there will be unjust people among his offspring and they will not benefit from Allah's promise. Thus, they will neither become Imams nor be imitated (for they will not be righteous). The proof that Ibrahim's supplication to Allah was accepted is that Allah said in Surat Al-`Ankabut (29:27),

وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَـبَ

(And We ordained among his offspring prophethood and the Book).

Hence, every Prophet whom Allah sent after Ibrahim were from among his offspring, and every Book that Allah revealed was to them. As for Allah's statement,

قَالَ لاَ يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّـلِمِينَ

((Allah) said, "My covenant (prophethood) includes not Zalimin (polytheists and wrongdoers). ")

Allah mentioned that there are unjust people among the offspring of Ibrahim, and they will not benefit from Allah's promise, nor would they be entrusted with anything, even though they are among the children of Allah's Khalil (intimate friend, Prophet Abraham). There will also be those who do good among the children of Ibrahim, and these it is who will benefit from Ibrahim's supplication. Ibn Jarir said that this Ayah indicated that the unjust shall not be Imams for the people. Moreover, the Ayah informed Ibrahim that there will be unjust people among his offspring. Also, Ibn Khuwayz Mindad Al-Maliki said, "The unjust person does not qualify to be a Khalifah, a ruler, one who gives religious verdicts, a witness, or even a narrator (of Hadiths)."

Ibrahim a.s. diuji Tuhan dengan beberapa kalimat dengan menugaskan perintah dan larangan, seperti membangun Ka'bah, membersihkannya dari segala macam kemusyrikan, mengorbankan anaknya Ismail a.s., menghadapi raja Namrud, dan sebagainya.

Menurut Mahmud Zahram, Ibrahim a.s. telah diberi oleh Allah ber-macam-macam pengalaman ujian dan cobaan. Dia diperintahkan Allah menyembelih anaknya, perjalanan pulang pergi antara Syam dengan Hijaz untuk melihat anak dan istrinya yang berada di kedua tempat itu, dan sebagainya. )

Allah tidak menerangkan macam-macam kalimat yang telah ditugaskan kepada Nabi Ibrahim. Hal ini memberi petunjuk bahwa tugas yang telah diberikan Allah itu adalah besar, berat dan banyak. Sekalipun demikian Ibrahim a.s. telah melaksanakan tugas dan beban itu dengan sebaik-baiknya yang membawanya ke tempat kedudukan yang sempurna.

Dan (lembaran-lembaran) Ibrahim yang selalu menyempurnakan janji? (an-Najm/53:37)

Perkataan, "Sesungguhnya Aku akan menjadikan kamu imam bagi seluruh manusia," tidak ada hubungannya dengan kalimat yang sebelumnya, karena tidak ada kata penghubung ('atf) pada permulaan kalimat tersebut.

Menurut Muhammad Abduh ), kalimat tersebut adalah kalimat yang berdiri sendiri, tidak ada hubungannya dengan kalimat yang sebelumnya. Maksudnya ialah bahwa pangkat imam (nabi dan rasul) adalah semata-mata pangkat yang dianugerahkan oleh Allah dan hanya Dia sendiri yang menetapkan kepada siapa pangkat itu akan diberikan-Nya. Tidak semua manusia dapat mencapainya sekalipun dia telah melaksanakan segala perintah dan menghentikan segala larangan Allah.

Dengan perkataan lain, pangkat imam yang dianugerahkan Allah kepada Nabi Ibrahim itu ditetapkan atas kehendak-Nya, bukan ditetapkan karena Nabi Ibrahim telah menyelesaikan dan menyempurnakan tugas yang diberikan kepadanya, agar dia menyadari bahwa pangkat yang diberikan Allah itu sesuai baginya, dan agar dia merasa dirinya mampu melaksanakan tugas dan memikul beban yang telah diberikan.

Setelah dianugerahi pangkat "imam" itu, Nabi Ibrahim a.s. berdoa kepada Allah agar pangkat "imam" dianugerahkan pula kepada keturunannya di kemudian hari. Doa Nabi Ibrahim ini doa yang sesuai dengan sunatullah. Menurut sunatullah, anak dan keturunan sambungan hidup bagi seseorang. Suatu cita-cita yang tidak sanggup dicapai semasa hidup di dunia diharapkan agar anak dan keturunan dapat menyampaikannya.

Tugas imam merupakan tugas yang suci dan mulia karena pemberian tugas itu bertujuan hendak mencapai cita-cita yang suci dan mulia pula. Ibrahim a.s. merasa dirinya tidak sanggup mencapai semua cita-citanya yang terkandung di dalam tugasnya selama hidup di dunia. Karena itu dia berdoa kepada Allah agar anak cucunya dianugerahi pula pangkat imam itu, sehingga cita-cita yang belum dapat dicapai semasa hidupnya dapat dilanjutkan dan dicapai oleh anak cucu dan keturunannya.

Dari ayat di atas dapat dipahami pula bahwa cara Nabi Ibrahim berdoa sesuai dengan sunatullah sehingga merupakan cara berdoa yang benar dan termasuk doa yang dikabulkan Allah. Terbukti, di kemudian hari bahwa semua rasul yang diutus Allah sesudahnya berasal dari keturunannya.

Dari firman Allah, "Janji-Ku (ini) tidak mengenai orang-orang yang zalim" dapat dipahami bahwa di antara keturunan Nabi Ibrahim itu ada orang-orang zalim. Pada ayat lain Allah menerangkan bahwa keturunan Ibrahim itu ada yang zalim dan ada yang berbuat baik. Allah berfirman:

Dan Kami limpahkan keberkahan kepadanya dan kepada Ishak. Dan di antara keturunan keduanya ada yang berbuat baik dan ada (pula) yang terang-terangan berbuat zalim terhadap dirinya sendiri. (as-saffat/37:113)

Allah berfirman:

Dan (Ibrahim) menjadikan (kalimat tauhid) itu kalimat yang kekal pada keturunannya agar mereka kembali (kepada kalimat tauhid itu). (az-Zukhruf/43:28)

Dari ayat ini dapat dipahami bahwa Nabi Ibrahim menjadikan kalimat tauhid sebagai pegangan bagi keturunannya. Jika di antara mereka ada yang mempersekutukan Allah, mereka diminta kembali kepada kalimat tauhid.

"Zalim" (aniaya) itu bermacam-macam. Zalim terhadap diri sendiri ialah tidak melaksanakan perintah dan tidak meninggalkan larangan Allah sehingga mendapat kemurkaan dan azab Allah yang membawa bencana kepada diri sendiri. Zalim terhadap makhluk-makhluk Allah, seperti berbuat kerusakan di bumi, memutuskan silaturahmi, zalim terhadap manusia dan sebagainya.

Dari perkataan "zalim" dapat dimengerti bahwa bagi seorang imam tidak boleh ada sifat zalim. Mustahil pangkat itu diberikan kepada orang yang kotor jiwanya, orang-orang yang tidak melaksanakan perintah-perintah Allah dan tidak menghentikan larangan-larangan-Nya.