۞

« His words: [37:106] Truly this was indeed a clear test. He said: That is, a trial of mercy (balāʾ al-raḥma).5 Do you not see how God sent him [Abraham] in a state of contentment (riḍā)? 6 1 The verse is speaking about Abraham. 2 The word najm (plur. nujūm) can mean ‘star’ while the word najm is a collective noun for ‘herbs’ or ‘plants’. 3 This is an exoteric interpretation, through which Muḥammad b. Sawwār possibly intends to make it clear that Abraham was not worshipping the stars, as did his ancestors, while other commentators point out that Abraham was deliberately giving his father and others the impression that he still depended on the stars. See, for example, the Tafsīr al-Jalālayn »