Surah Aal-Imran — Verse 65

Word Meanings:

• تُحَاجُّونَ — You argue, dispute, or engage in polemics.
• إِبْرَاهِيمَ — Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).
• مِن بَعْدِهِ — After him (i.e., after his time).
• أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ — Do you not use your reason/intellect?

Explanation of the Verse:

O People of the Book—Jews and Christians alike—why do you argue and dispute about Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), each claiming that he belonged to your faith? The Jews claim he was a Jew, and the Christians claim he was a Christian, yet you all know with certainty that the Torah was only revealed after Abraham, and the Gospel was likewise revealed after him. The Torah was given to Moses, and the Gospel to Jesus—both of whom came centuries after Abraham. So how can you possibly claim that Abraham followed a religion that did not even exist in his time?

The very books you hold sacred testify that Abraham lived long before Moses and Jesus. The religion of Judaism as a distinct law came with the Torah, and Christianity as a distinct law came with the Gospel. Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian—he was a pure monotheist, a Muslim who submitted wholly to Allah alone. Your own scriptures confirm this, so why do you persist in false claims?

Do you not use your intellect? Do you not reflect on the timeline of history and the clear evidence in your own revealed books? If you truly reasoned, you would realize the absurdity of your arguments. The truth is that Abraham was a devoted servant of Allah, following the universal message of submission to the One God—the same message brought by all prophets, including Moses and Jesus.

A Call to Reflection and Truth:

This verse is a beautiful invitation to intellectual honesty and sincere reflection. Allah, in His infinite mercy, calls upon the People of the Book to abandon baseless claims and embrace the truth that unites all believers: the worship of the One True God. The Prophet Abraham stands as a shining example of pure faith, free from sectarian divisions. Today, as Muslims, we honor and love Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets of Allah. We believe in all of them and follow the final message brought by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), which confirms and completes the earlier revelations.

Let this verse inspire you to seek the truth with an open heart and a sound mind. The Qur'an invites all of humanity to reason, to reflect, and to find peace in submission to Allah. The path of Abraham—the path of pure monotheism—is the path of salvation, and it is the very essence of Islam. May Allah guide us all to the straight path and unite us in faith and brotherhood.