How Should We Interpret the Prophet Ibraham’s Statement, “I Am Sick”?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

In the Quran, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) says, “I am sick.” This could not have been a sinful lie, I know. However, what is the interpretation?

Some claim he was sick of idol worship or that he faked reading the stars to claim he was about to get sick. Some claim that the lie was justified because he refused to participate in idol worship.

How should we interpret this incident?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

There are a few interpretations and commentaries:

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Ibraham (peace be upon him) did not tell a lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted and Almighty) when he said: “I am sick,” (when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Ibraham excused himself by saying he was sick, and when he said: “(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it.” The (third was) that while Ibraham and Sara (his wife) were going (on a journey), they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: “This man (i.e., Ibraham) is accompanied by a very charming lady.” So, he sent for Ibraham and asked him about Sara saying: “Who is this lady?” Ibraham said: “She is my sister.” [Bukhari; Muslim; Tirmidhi]

Ibn Kathir (Allah be pleased with him) said, this is not from real lying statement, but from ambiguous statements. The word “he did not lie” has been used metaphorically.

Some say, “saqim” means afflicted with plague. The people of the time were afraid of the plague, so he used this word for them to turn away from him. Some say, it means, a spiritually ill person, from worshipping the idols other than Allah (Most High). [Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

I pray this helps in your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani