Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

And the request for forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had promised him; but when it had become clear to him that he was an enemy to God, he declared himself quit of him; Abraham was compassionate and clement.

وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ لِاَب۪يهِ اِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَٓا اِيَّاهُۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَـهُٓ اَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلّٰهِ تَبَرَّاَ مِنْهُۜ اِنَّ اِبْرٰه۪يمَ لَاَوَّاهٌ حَل۪يمٌ
Wama kana istighfaruibraheema li-abeehi illa AAan mawAAidatin waAAadahaiyyahu falamma tabayyana lahu annahu AAaduwwun lillahitabarraa minhu inna ibraheema laawwahun haleem
#wordmeaningroot
1wamāAnd not
2kānawasكون
3is'tigh'fāru(the) asking of forgivenessغفر
4ib'rāhīma(by) Ibrahim
5li-abīhifor his fatherابو
6illāexcept
7ʿanbecause
8mawʿidatin(of) a promiseوعد
9waʿadahāhe had promised itوعد
10iyyāhu(to) him
11falammāBut when
12tabayyanait became clearبين
13lahuto him
14annahuthat he
15ʿaduwwun(was) an enemyعدو
16lillahito Allah
17tabarra-ahe disassociatedبرا
18min'hufrom him
19innaIndeed
20ib'rāhīmaIbrahim
21la-awwāhun(was) compassionateاوه
22ḥalīmunforbearingحلم
  • Aisha Bewley

    Ibrahim would not have asked forgiveness for his father but for a promise he made to him, and when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he renounced him. Ibrahim was tender-hearted and forbearing.

  • Progressive Muslims

    And Abraham seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he made to him. But when it became clear that he was God's enemy, he disowned him. Abraham was kind, compassionate.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Abraham asked forgiveness for his father because of a promise that he had made. The promise was based on the hope that his father would mend his ways. When Abraham was sure that his father was a persistent opponent of Allah's Commands, he desisted from asking forgiveness for him (14:41), (19:47). Abraham was kind-hearted, clement.

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    And the request for forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had promised him; but when it had become clear to him that he was an enemy to God, he declared himself quit of him; Abraham was compassionate and clement.

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    And Abraham seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear that he was the enemy of God, he disowned him. Abraham was kind, compassionate.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Abraham seeking forgiveness for his father was only because of a promise he made to him. But when it became clear that he was God's enemy, he disowned him. Abraham was kind, compassionate.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    The only reason Abraham asked forgiveness for his father was that he had promised him to do so. But as soon as he realized that he was an enemy of GOD, he disowned him. Abraham was extremely kind, clement.

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    As for Abraham's prayer for his father, he was fulfilling a promise he had made to him. Yet when it became evident to him that (his father) was an enemy of God, he broke away from him, though Abraham was soft hearted and kind.

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.

  • Muhammad Asad

    And Abraham's prayer that his father be forgiven was but due to a promise which he had given the latter ; but when it was made clear unto him that he had been God's enemy, disavowed him - behold, Abraham was most tender-hearted. most clement.

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    The prayer of Abraham for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise he had promised him, but when it had become clear unto him that he (his father) was an enemy to Allah he (Abraham) disowned him. Lo! Abraham was soft of heart, long-suffering.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    And Abraham's prayer for the forgiveness of his father was only because of a promise which he had made to him. Then, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him. Surely Abraham was most tender-hearted, God-fearing, forbearing.

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    The invocatory prayer made by Ibrahim on behalf of his father was in fulfillment of a promise he had made to him. But when he realized that his father was an avowed enemy to Allah, he declared his innocence of his ills and of his fatherhood. Indeed Ibrahim constantly implored Allah with touching entreaties, and forbearance was an attribute of his.

  • Bijan Moeinian

    If Abraham said a prayer for his (idol worshipping) father, it was just in account of fulfilling a promise that he had made to him. As soon as Abraham realized that his father is an enemy of the Lord, he disowned him. The fact is that Abraham was a tenderhearted tolerant person.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    And Ibrâhîm’s (Abraham) invoking (of Allâh) for his father’s forgiveness was only because of a promise he had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him that he (his father) is an enemy of Allâh, he dissociated himself from him. Verily Ibrâhîm (Abraham) was Awwah (one who invokes Allâh with humility, glorifies Him and remembers Him much) and was forbearing. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubî).

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    And Abraham prayed for his father's forgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he dissociated himself from him: for Abraham was most tender-hearted, forbearing.

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    As for Abraham’s prayer for his father’s forgiveness, it was only in fulfilment of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to Abraham that his father was an enemy of Allah, he broke ties with him. Abraham was truly tender-hearted, forbearing.

  • Taqi Usmani

    As for the prayer of Ibrāhīm for the forgiveness of his father, it was only due to a promise he had made to him. Later, when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he withdrew himself from him. Indeed, Ibrāhīm was very tender-hearted, very forbearing.

  • Abdul Haleem

    Abraham asked forgiveness for his father because he had made a promise to him, but once he realized that his father was an enemy of God, he washed his hands of him. Abraham was tender-hearted and forbearing.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Abraham asked not pardon for his father except because of a promise he had made to him; and when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of God, he declared himself quit of him; Abraham was compassionate, clement.

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Nor was Abraham's asking pardon for his father aught else but through a promise he had promised him; but when it was made manifest to him that he was an enemy to God, he cleansed himself of him; verily, Abraham was pitiful and clement.

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Nor was Abraham's asking pardon for his father aught else but through a promise he had promised him; but when it was made manifest to him that he was an enemy to Allah, he cleansed himself of him (dissociated himself); verily, Abraham was soft of heart, forbearing.

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    And in no way was Ibrahîm's (Abraham's) asking forgiveness for his father (for any reason) except for a commitment he had promised him; so, as soon as it became evident to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he declared himself quit of him; surely Ibrahîm was indeed most plaintive, constantly forbearing.

  • George Sale

    Neither did Abraham ask forgiveness for his father, otherwise than in pursuance of a promise which he had promised unto him: But when it became known unto him, that he was an enemy unto God, he declared himself clear of him. Verily Abraham was putiful and compassionate.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    And Ibrahim (Abraham) prayed for his fathers’ forgiveness only because of a promise he (Ibrahim) had made to him (his father). But when it became clear to him (Ibrahim) that he (his father) was an enemy of Allah, he (Ibrahim) broke ties from him (his father): Surely, Ibrahim (Abraham) was most kind, forgiving.

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    And Abraham's praying for protection for his (idolatrous) sire was only because of a promise he had made to him, but when it became clear to him that he (- his sire) was an enemy to Allâh, he (- Abraham) dissociated himself from him. Abraham was, as a matter of fact, soft of heart (and) forbearing.

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Abraham’s pleading forgiveness for his father was only to fulfill a promise he had made him. So when it became manifest to him that he was an enemy of God, he repudiated him. Indeed Abraham was most plaintive and forbearing.