Surah ash-Shu`ara' (The Poets ) 26 : 78

Overview (Verses 78 - 82)

Acknowledging God’s Favours

Abraham then outlines the attributes of his Lord, the Lord of all the worlds, and the bond that exists between them at all times and in all situations. As we listen to his description we feel the close, inspirational relationship that acknowledges God’s hand in everything that happens in life: It is He who has created me, and is the One who guides me. He is the One who gives me to eat and to drink. When I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health, and will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life. It is He also who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement. (Verses 78-82)

Abraham’s description of his Lord and the bond between them imparts a feeling that every part of his constitution feels this bond. Hence, all his aspirations look to God with love and trust. It is as if Abraham actually sees his Lord and feels his grace with all his heart. As the Qur’ān quotes Abraham’s description, it gives it a melodious tone, one that imparts a very relaxed atmosphere, spreading its soothing, tranquil air. “It is He who has created me, and is the One who guides me.” (Verse 78) He has originated me from where He knows but I know not. This means that He knows everything about me: my constitution, nature, functions, feelings, and ultimate destiny. He is the One to guide me and provide me with the line I should follow in life. It is as if Abraham feels himself like an elastic material which God shapes the way He likes, giving it whatever form He chooses. He submits himself to God with full trust, perfectly assured that he is on the right course.

“He is the One who gives me to eat and to drink. When I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health.” (Verses 79-80) These are aspects of the direct, compassionate and loving care Abraham feels his Lord takes of him in all situations of health and sickness. Abraham demonstrates the utmost standard of politeness with his Lord by not attributing any illness to Him, although he knows well that both sickness and health occur by God’s will. He only attributes to Him the blessings he enjoys and the care he receives: his food and drink as well as his health. Again it is God who “will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life.” (Verse 81) This signifies complete faith that it is God who deals death, and that He is certain to bring the dead back to life.

“It is He also who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement.” (Verse 82) Abraham, a prophet and a messenger of God, who knows his Lord and feels his presence and care in such a way, acknowledging such a close relationship with Him, expresses his dearest hope that on the Day of Judgement, God will forgive him his faults. He does not entertain any thought that he is without fault. Indeed he acknowledges that he has these, but hopes to receive more of God’s grace. He does not feel that his deeds, good as they may be, deserve any credit, but hopes for God’s mercy and forgiveness. This is the best to hope for. This statement combines feelings of God-consciousness, politeness and self-effacement. This is the right combination to truly appreciate the grace God bestows on us, which is great indeed, and the value of our actions, which is definitely petty. In his description of his Lord, Abraham combines all the elements of true faith: God’s oneness, acknowledgement that He conducts all the affairs of human life on earth including every minute detail, resurrection after death, reckoning, God’s grace and man’s failings. His people denied these, as do all those who associate partners with God.