Surah Maryam — Verse 48

Word Meanings:

• A'tazilukum – I distance myself from you and separate from your company.
• Ma tad'oona min doonillah – What you call upon and worship besides Allah, i.e., your idols and false deities.
• Ad'oo Rabbee – I call upon and worship my Lord alone.
• Asa alla akoona bidu'aa'i Rabbee shaqiyyan – Perhaps I will not be unfortunate in my supplication to my Lord, meaning that He will not refuse my prayer or leave me unanswered.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this noble verse, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) declares his complete and final separation from his people and their false gods. He says: "I withdraw from you and from everything you worship instead of Allah." This is not merely a physical departure, but a spiritual and ideological break from all forms of polytheism and false worship. He abandons their idols, their traditions, and their entire way of life that contradicts the worship of the One True God.

Then he turns to his Lord with a pure heart, saying: "And I call upon my Lord" — meaning he dedicates himself wholly to the worship and supplication of Allah alone, with no partner or associate. His hope is expressed in the words: "Perhaps I will not be unfortunate in my call to my Lord" — meaning that he hopes and prays that Allah will not reject his supplication or deprive him of an answer, which would be the ultimate misery. This reflects the deep humility of a prophet who, despite his high station, still hopes and fears regarding the acceptance of his prayers, showing us the proper attitude of a servant before his Lord.

This verse teaches us a profound lesson: true faith requires a clear and decisive break from falsehood, no matter how dear the people attached to it may be. Ibrahim was leaving his own father and his entire community, yet he did so for the sake of Allah, trusting that Allah would never abandon him. When you leave something for the sake of Allah, Allah replaces it with something far better. The believer who separates from sin and falsehood, and turns sincerely to Allah, should never fear loss — for Allah's generosity is boundless, and He never disappoints the one who calls upon Him with a sincere heart.

Dear reader, reflect on this beautiful example of reliance upon Allah. When you find yourself surrounded by people who mock your faith or pressure you to compromise your religion, remember Ibrahim's stance. He did not despair, nor did he compromise. He simply turned to his Lord, and Allah made him the father of prophets and the friend of Allah (Khalilullah). Whoever leaves something for Allah's sake, Allah grants them something better. So call upon your Lord with certainty, and know that He hears you, answers you, and will never let your supplication be in vain. This is the promise of the Most Merciful, and His promise is always true.