Verse 57
The Rocky Tract • makkah
View Aspects
12:88.
Commentary:
Abraham felt naturally hurt at the words, be not therefore of those who despair. He thought it an insult to his faith that anybody should think of him as despairing of God’s grace. Therefore, he strongly repudiated the implication and was not slow in expressing his justified indignation at it. It is worthy of note here that, whereas on the one hand Abraham was so hospitable that immediately on the arrival of the messengers he brought for them a roasted calf and, when they refrained from partaking of it, he feared that they were displeased with him for some unconscious failure on his part to accord them the honour they deserved as his guests (11:70-71); on the other hand, he indignantly protested against their remarks when the same guests seemed, inadvertently, to question his faith in God. Such is the jealousy and deep regard which the Prophets have for God.
Abraham meant to say that he had made the enquiry simply to ascertain whether it was glad tidings from God or only a conjecture, but now that he had come to know that the message was from God, he could have no possible doubt regarding its fulfilment.
12:88.