Tafsir of Az-Zukhruf 43:26

"And when Abraham said..."

It is read as barā’ (with a fatha on the bā’), burū’ (with a damma), barī’, fabarī’, and barā’—similar to karīm and kirām. Barā’ is a verbal noun (masdar) like ẓamā’; therefore, it is used identically for the singular, dual, plural, masculine, and feminine. It is said: "We are al-barā’ (free) of you," and "the khalā’ (void) of you."

"Except He who created me"

There are several interpretations for this:

1. It is in the accusative case (manṣūb) as a disconnected exception (istithnā’ munqaṭi‘). It is as if he said: "But He who created me, He will guide me."
2. It is in the genitive case (majrūr) as a substitute (badal) for the noun governed by the preposition min (in mimmā). It is as if he said: "I am free from what you worship, except from Him who created me."

If you ask: "How can you make it a substitute when He is not of the same genus as what they worship, given two points: first, that the Essence of God is distinct from all essences, and second, that God is not worshipped among them while the idols are?"

I reply: It is said that they used to worship God alongside their idols.

3. That illā is an adjective meaning "other than" (ghayr), assuming that mā in mā ta‘budūn is a qualified noun. The estimation is: "I am free from gods you worship other than He who created me." This is analogous to the Almighty’s saying: "Had there been within them [the heavens and the earth] gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined" (Al-Anbiya: 22).

"He will guide me"

If you ask: "What is the meaning of the future tense particle (sawfa) here?"

I reply: He said once, "He will guide me" (fahuwa yahdīn - Ash-Shu‘ara: 78), and here he says, "He will guide me" (fainnahu sayahdīn). Combine the two and estimate it as if he said: "He guides me and He will guide me," indicating the continuity of guidance in both the present and the future.

"And he made it"

Abraham (peace be upon him) made the word of monotheism—which he spoke, namely: "I am free from what you worship, except He who created me"—"a word remaining among his descendants."

That is, among his progeny, there will always be those who profess the oneness of God and call to His oneness, so that perhaps those among them who associate partners with God might return through the supplication of those who profess His oneness. Similar to this is: "And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same]" (Al-Baqarah: 132).

It is also said: "And God made it." It is read as kalimatun (with light inflection), and ‘aqibihi is read similarly, as well as ‘āqibihi—meaning those who follow him, i.e., his successors.

"Rather, I have given enjoyments to these and their fathers until the truth came to them and a clear Messenger."