Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:123

The Holy Prophet being on the way of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) : Understanding the Chemistry of Adherence

When Sayyidna Ibrahim I appeared, Allah Ta’ ala blessed him with a Shari'ah and its Injunctions. When the Last of the Prophets (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) ap¬peared, his Shari'ah too - with the exception of some particular Injunc¬tions - was laid out in accordance with it. Though, the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) is preferred as more distinguished (afdal) of all blessed prophets and mes¬sengers, but at this place, there are two wise considerations in asking the preferred (afdal) to follow the one not so preferred (mafdul) in the present context. (1) Since that Shari'ah has come into the world earlier and is already known and recognized and as the last Shari'ah was also to be in accord with that, therefore, this similarity of the Holy Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم) to the way of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was expressed through the word: اِتِّبَاع (ittiba': following). (2) As said by ` Allamah al-Zamakhshari (au¬thor of Tafsir Al-Kashshaf), this command to follow too is a special tribute out of the many honours and tributes attributed to the 'friend' of Allah, Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . That it is so special has been hinted through the use of the word: ثُمَّ (thumma: Then - 123). The sense being conveyed is: Certainly great are all those merits and perfections of the person of Sayy¬idna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) as they are, but the most superior of all these is the fact that Allah Ta’ ala has asked his preferred-most and the dearest rasul to follow his way.