The Secret of Prophet Abraham’s Selection

After Prophet Abraham and his way of life were introduced as the standard of intellect and growth, the secret of his way of life being a standard is explained as his being chosen: “And We had certainly chosen him in this world.” He is a pure monotheist and is selected and chosen from among the faithful, pious, and detached humans, and is God’s chosen one.

God Almighty has approved and chosen a method and religion, and has recommended it to us, which is the choicest of religions and the best of methods: “Indeed, God has chosen for you the religion”(227).

If someone accepts the religion that is God’s choicest and adheres to it, they themselves become chosen by God. Thus, the secret of Prophet Abraham’s selection lies in accepting the choicest religion.

It is worth noting that the difference in expression regarding Abraham’s selection and righteousness, where God Almighty attributed the former to “the world” and the latter to “the Hereafter”: “And We had certainly chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous,” is not merely a variation in expression, but rather the specificity of each is intended. Of course, in both realms, these two characteristics and attributes belong to Abraham, the Friend of the Merciful, although his selection in this world is clear, and one who is chosen by God in this world is certainly chosen in the Hereafter as well, just as if someone is among the righteous in the Hereafter, they were certainly righteous in this world too. However, there is an excellent point regarding his joining the righteous in the Resurrection, which will be presented later.

Note: Some have thought that in the verse under discussion, there has been a rearrangement, meaning that the original verse was: “We had certainly chosen him in this world and the Hereafter, and indeed he is among the righteous.” However, there is no evidence to support such a possibility (of rearrangement and addition of the preposition “in”). Therefore, Abū Ḥayyān al-Andalusī, after quoting it from Ḥasan ibn Faḍl, says: This statement is incorrect, and God’s Book is above that(228).