Qur’anic du‘a study · TC-DUA-044
Qur’an 60:4–5 presents Ibrahim and those with him as an example in their rejection of worship directed to other than الله (ALLAH). Within that long statement they declare reliance, return and final destination to Him, then ask not to be made a trial for disbelievers and ask for forgiveness. The passage must be read with its speakers, exception and wider commands of justice visible.
1. Read the example without cutting away its setting
Read Qur’an 60:1–9. The opening addresses loyalty and disclosure in a setting where believers had been driven out because of faith. Verse 4 presents Ibrahim and those with him, then explicitly marks an exception concerning Ibrahim’s promise to seek forgiveness for his father while admitting no power against الله (ALLAH).
Verses 8–9 later distinguish those who do not fight or expel believers: the Qur’an does not forbid kindness and justice towards them. That wider passage matters. Verse 4 is not a permission slip for personal cruelty, collective suspicion or dishonest treatment of peaceful neighbours.
2. Study the two ayahs and their grammar
Qur’an study · Al-Mumtahanah A full learner transliteration is not displayed here. Listen to the complete ayah and use the Arabic with a capable teacher rather than guessing its sounds from English letters. Read from right to left. Each column keeps one Arabic word, its reading aid and its contextual gloss together. Select a word to hear it. Each word card: Arabic · reading aid · contextual gloss Saheeh International is the primary reading. The two named comparisons make translation choices visible; none is presented as the Arabic Qur’an itself. There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, "Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allāh. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allāh alone" - except for the saying of Abraham to his father, "I will surely ask forgiveness for you, but I have not [power to do] for you anything against Allāh. Our Lord, upon You we have relied, and to You we have returned, and to You is the destination. There is a goodly pattern for you in Abraham and those with him, when they told their folk: Lo! we are guiltless of you and all that ye worship beside Allah. We have done with you. And there hath arisen between us and you hostility and hate for ever until ye believe in Allah only - save that which Abraham promised his father (when he said): I will ask forgiveness for thee, though I own nothing for thee from Allah - Our Lord! In Thee we put our trust, and unto Thee we turn repentant, and unto Thee is the journeying. There is for you an excellent example (to follow) in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people: "We are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah: we have rejected you, and there has arisen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him alone": But not when Abraham said to his father: "I will pray for forgiveness for thee, though I have no power (to get) aught on thy behalf from Allah." (They prayed): "Our Lord! in Thee do we trust, and to Thee do we turn in repentance: to Thee is (our) Final Goal. Qur’an study · Al-Mumtahanah A full learner transliteration is not displayed here. Listen to the complete ayah and use the Arabic with a capable teacher rather than guessing its sounds from English letters. Read from right to left. Each column keeps one Arabic word, its reading aid and its contextual gloss together. Select a word to hear it. Each word card: Arabic · reading aid · contextual gloss Saheeh International is the primary reading. The two named comparisons make translation choices visible; none is presented as the Arabic Qur’an itself. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] torment for the disbelievers and forgive us, our Lord. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." Our Lord! Make us not a prey for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord! Lo! Thou, only Thou, are the Mighty, the Wise. "Our Lord! Make us not a (test and) trial for the Unbelievers, but forgive us, our Lord! for Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise."Ayah 60:4
Sources used for this ayah panelOpen the Arabic, audio and translation notes
Ayah 60:5
Sources used for this ayah panelOpen the Arabic, audio and translation notes
Verse 4 is long. The prayer begins near its end: “Our Lord, upon You we have relied…” Verse 5 continues with the request about becoming a trial and with forgiveness, then closes with two Divine names translated as the Exalted in Might and the Wise. Learn where the quotation begins rather than treating the whole ayah as one short du‘a.
Translations render the trial phrase differently—objects of torment, prey, or a test and trial. Keep that variation visible. Do not pretend one short English gloss exhausts the Arabic construction.
Pronunciation support. Begin with the complete recitation, then select the individual word-audio buttons from right to left. Latin letters can only point towards Arabic sounds; they cannot reproduce every letter, vowel length or recitation rule. Keep the Arabic visible and ask a capable teacher to correct you.
Word-by-word support. Each card keeps one Arabic word, a reading aid and a contextual gloss together. A gloss is not a complete translation. Reconstruct meaning from the whole ayah and its named translation rather than joining short glosses mechanically.
3. Reliance, return and destination
The prayer names three movements: reliance upon الله (ALLAH), return to Him in repentance and the final journey to Him. Tawakkul is therefore joined to moral return, not used to protect pride. A learner asking for protection from trial also asks for forgiveness.
This combination discourages self-righteousness. The believer can hold firmly to tawheed while admitting personal need. It is possible to reject false worship without lying, abusing, cheating or breaking lawful commitments with people who believe differently.
4. Use the passage without manufacturing hostility
Before applying the verse to a current group, write the Quranic facts in one column and present-day assumptions in another. Ask whether the current people fought, expelled or persecuted anyone, and read verses 8–9. Do not transfer a historical description merely because of disagreement.
Practise the actual requests: entrust the outcome to الله (ALLAH), turn back to Him, ask not to become a means of trial and ask for forgiveness. No fixed count or guaranteed sign is claimed.
A ten-minute study routine. Listen once without pausing. Listen again while following the Arabic. Read the primary translation and compare one sentence in the other named translations. Practise no more than three Arabic words, then explain the request in plain language while keeping your explanation separate from the Quranic quotation.
Respectful printing. Print the ayah panel only when it will be used, keep it clean and do not leave Quranic text where it may be stepped on or discarded casually. Follow reliable local guidance if a damaged printout needs respectful disposal.
5. Teaching children about conviction and fairness
Use two non-animate signs labelled “belief” and “behaviour”. Explain that Muslims keep worship for الله (ALLAH) alone, while fairness, truthfulness and kindness remain duties in dealing with others. A child does not need to mock another religion in order to understand tawheed.
Do not stage classroom debates that invite children to attack one another’s families. Teach how to say, “I do not share that belief,” while remaining safe, respectful and honest.
6. Interpretive and safeguarding boundaries
This study does not issue a ruling on war, citizenship, friendship or an individual relationship. Those questions require the whole Quranic context, authenticated Sunnah, legal competence and attention to actual circumstances. It does not authorise vigilante conduct.
If a learner is experiencing religious hostility or family pressure, help them obtain safe, lawful support. If they are directing hostility at others, correct the behaviour clearly. Tawheed never makes injustice truthful.
Translation transparency. Saheeh International is displayed as the primary English reading, alongside the named Pickthall and Yusuf Ali translations. Differences make human translation choices visible; none of the English readings is the Arabic Qur’an. Compare complete sentences and consult a qualified teacher where wording is unclear.
Mastery check. Before marking the resource complete, answer four questions: Who speaks in the Quranic passage? What is requested or stated? Which surrounding ayahs establish the setting? What claim must not be added? Reaching the bottom records reading progress; mastery requires accurate explanation and responsible conduct.
Continue through the du‘a learning hub or return to the learning library.