Surah Ibrahim 14:1
سُورَةُ إِبۡرَاهِيمَ · Meccan · Verse 1 of 52
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ الٓر ۚ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
Translation
Alif Lam Ra This is a Scripture which We have sent down to you [Prophet] so that, with their Lord’s permission, you may bring people from the depths of darkness into light, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy One,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Connections
The opening verse of Surah Ibrahim, الٓر ۚ كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ, introduces a magnificent book with a profound purpose. Allah addresses Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, announcing the revelation of this Quran.
A Miraculous Opening
The surah begins with the isolated letters Alif, Lam, Ra (الٓر). As al-Sabuni notes, these letters signal that this is a miraculous Book, challenging anyone to produce its like. al-Wasit explains that these initial letters serve to awaken and challenge those who doubted the Quran's divine origin. It's as if Allah says, "Here is a book made of the very letters you use, yet you cannot replicate its unique power and guidance." al-Biqa'i adds that the word "كِتَٰبٌ" (Book) is used in a form that signifies its immense greatness and high status, beyond what words can fully describe.
Guiding from Darkness to Light
The primary mission of this Book, as stated in the verse, is "لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ" (to bring mankind out of darkness into light). This is a beautiful metaphor, as al-Sabuni explains: "ظلمات" (darkness) represents the numerous paths of ignorance and misguidance, while "نور" (light) symbolizes the single path of knowledge, faith, and divine guidance. Tantawi points out that the Quran uses the plural "darkness" but the singular "light" to emphasize that while there are many ways to go astray, there is only one true path to God.
Crucially, this guidance happens "بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ" (by the permission of their Lord). As al-Shinqiti highlights by connecting to other Quranic verses (like Surah Al-Hadid 57:9 and Surah Yunus 10:100), the Prophet is the messenger, but true transformation and belief are ultimately granted by Allah's will and wisdom. He alone opens hearts and allows one to move from doubt to certainty, from error to truth.
The Path of the All-Mighty
The "light" to which people are guided is further defined as "صِرَاطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ" (the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy). al-Biqa'i describes Al-Aziz as the One exalted above all imperfections, so powerful that no one can transgress His path without His permission. Al-Hamid is the One who encompasses all perfection and is deserving of all praise for His very essence and the countless blessings He bestows. This path is the very foundation of Tawhid, the Oneness of God, which al-Biqa'i identifies as the central purpose of Surah Ibrahim.
This verse, therefore, acts as a bridge from the previous Surah Ar-Ra'd, which concluded by emphasizing Allah's unique testimony. Here, the Quran itself is presented as that ultimate testimony, a divine communication capable of illuminating all of humanity and leading them to the straight path of their All-Mighty and Praiseworthy Lord.
Sources: al-Sabuni (Safwat al-Tafasir), al-Wasit (Tantawi), al-Shinqiti (Adwa al-Bayan), al-Biqa'i (Nazm al-Durar)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Ibrahim 14:1 is discussed in 9 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Ibrahim 14:1 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.