Name: The name of this surah is Ibrahim, and it has seven sections and fifty-two verses. The broad topic of this surah is the final success of prophets after suffering severe afflictions, and even evictions from their homes, at the hands of their opponents. Noteworthy though is the prayer Abraham made for Makkah and its inhabitants which is narrated in the sixth section of this surah. This prayer mentions the special purpose for which Ishmael was left near the Ka‘bah in a valley devoid of seed produce. This settling of Ishmael in Makkah is a meaningful act in the chain of prophethood because it is from this far-flung barren land, devoid of water, that the spring of monotheism was to gush forth and irrigate the whole world. The surah is named Ibrahim because of his prayer. Due to the impact of his prayer the enemies of the Holy Prophet were not destroyed.
Summary: The first thing mentioned in this surah is that the purpose of the Holy Prophet’s apostleship is to bring the whole world out of darkness into light. In the very first section, the similarity between Moses and the Holy Prophet is indicated but it is made clear that while the message of Moses was restricted to his nation, the message of the Arabian prophet is universal. The second section delves into how the opponents of prophets not only ignore the message of prophets but oppose them and their message with all their might. The third section recounts that when the opposition of messengers exceeds all limits and their opponents expel, or seek to expel, the prophet from their land, the Divine judgment is given which brings about the success of the truth and the failure of falsehood. In the fourth section, truth and falsehood are compared and it is pointed out that truth is successful because its roots are strong, and its principles and doctrines are based on knowledge and wisdom, which nothing can destroy. The fifth section discloses that not benefiting from the truth that has come through Divine revelation is to deprive oneself of a great blessing. The sixth section contains the prayer of Abraham, and it is disclosed that Abraham left Ishmael in Makkah to fulfill the Divine purpose of bringing prophethood to perfection. The seventh section maps out the final defeat of the Holy Prophet’s opponents.
Relationship with previous surahs: This is the fifth surah in the الرا group. The general theme of the surah is the opposition of messengers by their antagonists, and using this as a background, it is conveyed that truth is something that can never be destroyed. It is like a tree whose roots are firmly anchored in the ground and whose branches reach out to heaven and spread out in every direction to obtain their sustenance. Hence no earthly power can destroy it. Falsehood, on the other hand, has no roots and no worldly power can sustain it. This is why the truth brought by messengers is ultimately victorious.
Period of revelation: There are several indications in this surah which show that the whole الرا group belongs to the late Makkan period. For example, it is stated very clearly in لَنُخْرِجَنَّكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ :We will certainly drive you out of our land (14:13) that the disbelievers are determined to carry out their final plan, and their grand plan is described here in the following words: وَقَدْ مَكَرُوا۟ مَكْرَهُمْ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكْرُهُمْ وَإِن كَانَ مَكْرُهُمْ لِتَزُولَ مِنْهُ ٱلْجِبَالُ :And they have indeed planned their plan, and their plan is with Allah, though their plan is such that the mountains should be moved thereby (14:46). This is a reference to their final plan which entailed the assassination of the Holy Prophet.
Bayan-ul-Quran 