Tafsir of An-Nahl 16:120

{Indeed, Abraham was an Ummah (a nation/leader)...}

There are two interpretations regarding the word Ummah:

1. He was a nation unto himself: He was a single individual who embodied the qualities of an entire nation due to his perfection in all virtuous traits. As the poet says: “It is not strange for God to gather the whole world into one person.” Mujāhid said: "He was a believer alone while all the people were disbelievers."

2. He was an Ummah in the sense of Ma’mūm (one who is followed): Meaning, people follow him to learn goodness from him. It is also interpreted as Mu’tamm bihi (one who is taken as a model), similar to the words riḥlah (a journey/one who is traveled to) or nukhbah (an elite/one who is chosen). This follows the pattern of fa‘lah meaning maf‘ūl (passive participle). This aligns with the verse: “Indeed, I will make you a leader (imām) for the people” (Al-Baqarah: 124).

Al-Sha‘bī narrated from Farwah ibn Nawfal al-Ashja‘ī that Ibn Mas‘ūd said: "Mu‘ādh was an Ummah, obedient to God." I said: "You are mistaken; it is Abraham." He replied: "The Ummah is the one who teaches goodness, and the Qānit (obedient) is the one who obeys God and His Messenger, and Mu‘ādh was such."

When ‘Umar (may God be pleased with him) was asked to appoint a successor, he said: "If Abū ‘Ubaydah were alive, I would have appointed him; if Mu‘ādh were alive, I would have appointed him; if Sālim were alive, I would have appointed him." He then cited the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Abū ‘Ubaydah is the trustee of this nation, and Mu‘ādh is an Ummah, obedient to God—there is no one between him and God on the Day of Resurrection except the Messengers—and Sālim has intense love for God; if he did not fear God, he would not disobey Him." This confirms the meaning: he was a leader in religion, for leaders are teachers of goodness.

{Qānit (obedient)}: One who fulfills what God has commanded him.

{Ḥanīf (inclined)}: One who leans toward the religion of Islam and does not deviate from it. God negated polytheism from him to refute the disbelievers of Quraysh in their claim that they were upon the religion of their father, Abraham.

{Shākiran li-an‘umihi (grateful for His favors)}: It is narrated that he would never eat lunch unless he had a guest. One day, he found no guest, so he delayed his meal. Suddenly, a group of angels appeared in human form. He invited them to eat, but they feigned having leprosy. He said: "Now it is mandatory for me to eat with you, in gratitude to God for healing me and testing you."

{Ijtabāhu (He chose him)}: He singled him out and selected him for prophethood.

{Wa-hadāhu ilā ṣirāṭin mustaqīm (and guided him to a straight path)}: To the religion of Islam.

{Ḥasanah (good)}: Qatādah said: "It is God’s praise of him, such that there is no follower of any religion who does not hold him in high regard." Others said: "It refers to wealth and children." Others said: "It is the statement of the one praying among us: 'As You blessed Abraham.'"

{Wa-innahu fī al-ākhirati lamina al-ṣāliḥīn (And in the Hereafter, he will be among the righteous)}: Among the people of Paradise.

{Then We revealed to you: "Follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."}