Surah Al-An'am — Verse 87

Word Meanings:

• Ābāʾihim (آبَائِهِمْ): Their fathers/forefathers.
• Dhurriyyātihim (ذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ): Their offspring/descendants.
• Ikhwānihim (إِخْوَانِهِمْ): Their brothers.
• Ijtabaynāhum (وَاجْتَبَيْنَاهُمْ): We chose/selected them (for Our favour).
• Ṣirāṭin mustaqīm (صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ): A straight path — the path of truth and righteousness, free from any deviation.

Tafsir (Explanation):

In this noble verse, Allah continues to recount His immense favour upon the chosen messengers and prophets mentioned earlier. He tells us that He also guided and honoured *some* of their fathers, their offspring, and their brothers — not all of them, for among their families were those who did not reach the rank of prophethood or righteousness. Yet, Allah, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, selected these particular individuals from among their kin and elevated them to high stations of faith and virtue.

The phrase "And We chose them" (ijtabaynāhum) signifies a special, divine selection — Allah picked them out from among their people for His guidance and for the noble mission of conveying His message. This choice was not based on worldly status or lineage alone, but on their sincerity, their readiness to submit, and their pure hearts that yearned for truth.

Then Allah says, "And We guided them to a straight path" — meaning He directed them and made easy for them the way that leads to His pleasure: the path of pure monotheism (tawḥīd), sincere worship of Allah alone, and obedience to His commands. This is the path that has no crookedness, no contradiction, and no misguidance — the path that leads to eternal success in this life and the Hereafter.

A Call to Reflection and Action:

Dear reader, pause and reflect on this beautiful divine favour! Allah did not leave His chosen servants to wander in darkness; He personally selected them, guided them, and placed them on the clearest road. This is the same Allah who calls *you* today — He invites you to be among those whom He guides, to be part of this blessed lineage of truth. The door of His mercy is wide open; He says in another verse: *"And whoever Allah guides — he is the [rightly] guided"* (Al-Isrāʾ: 97).

So turn to your Lord with a sincere heart, seek His guidance in every step of your life, and ask Him to make you steadfast upon His straight path. For the greatest honour a person can attain is not wealth or status, but to be among those whom Allah has chosen and guided to His path. And remember — the prophets and the righteous were not infallible by their own effort alone; it was Allah's grace that selected them, and that same grace is available to you whenever you sincerely raise your hands in supplication, saying: *"Guide us to the straight path"* (Al-Fātiḥah: 6). May Allah make us all among the guided and the chosen.