Surah Sad Ayat 45 (38:45 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

And make mention of Our servants, Abraham and Isaac and Jacob: they were men of great power and insight.^[48]

48. The actual words in the text mean: Those who possessed the hands and the insights. The hand, as we have explained above, implies power and capability. To describe these Prophets as “men of great power and insight” means that they were practical men. They possessed great power to obey Allah and to abstain from sin, and they had made great efforts for raising the Word of Allah in the world. “Insight” does not mean eye-sight but the vision of the heart and mind. They could see and recognize the truth. They did not live like the blind in the world, but they walked the straight path of guidance, in the full light of knowledge, with open eyes. In these words, there is a subtle allusion to this also that the people who commit evil, and have gone astray, are in fact, deprived of the hands as well as the eyes. He only, who works in the cause of Allah, possesses the hands, and he, who distinguishes between the light of the truth and the darkness of falsehood, only possesses the eyes.

Ibn-Kathir

45.And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya`qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar. 46. Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode. 47. And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best! 48. And remember Isma`il, Al-Yasa`, and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best.

Allah tells us about the virtues of His servants the Messengers and His Prophets:

(And remember Our servants, Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Ya`qub, Ulil-Aydi wal-Absar.) meaning, righteous deeds, beneficial knowledge, strength in worship and insight. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

(Ulil-Aydi) “Of great strength and worship;

(wal-Absar) means, understanding of the religion.” Qatadah and As-Suddi said, “They were given strength in worship and understanding of the religion.”

(Verily, We did choose them by granting them the remembrance of the Abode.) Mujahid said, “This means: We made them strive for the Hereafter, and there is nothing else for them besides that.” As-Suddi also said, “The remembrance of the Hereafter and striving for it.” Malik bin Dinar said, “Allah removed the love of this world from their hearts, and singled them out for land remembrance of the Hereafter.” Qatadah said, “They used to remind the people about the Abode of the Hereafter and to strive for it.”

(And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best!) means, they are among those who have been elected and chosen, and they are the best and the chosen ones.

(And remember Isma`il, Al-Yasa`, and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best.) We have already discussed their characteristics and stories in detail in Surat Al-Anbiya’, may peace be upon them, and there is no need to repeat it here.

(This is a Reminder) means, a reminder to those who will be reminded. As-Suddi said, “This means the Holy Qur’an.”