Tafseer Ibn Kathir: Tawhid Becomes Apparent to Ibrahim - Konntruktivisme of Ibrahim

Allah's statement,

[وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِى إِبْرَهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ]

(Thus did We show Ibrahim the kingdom of the heavens and the earth...) [6:75], means, when he contemplated about the creation of the heaven and earth, We showed Ibrahim the proofs of Allah's Oneness over His dominion and His creation, which indicate that there is no god or Lord except Allah. Allah said in other Ayat;

[قُلِ انظُرُواْ مَاذَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ]

(Say: "Behold all that is in the heavens and the earth.'') [10:101], and,

[أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ الاٌّرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفاً مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاّيَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ ]

(See they not what is before them and what is behind them, of the heaven and the earth If We will, We sink the earth with them, or cause a piece of the sky to fall upon them. Verily, in this is a sign for every servant who turns to Allah.) [34:9] Allah said next,

[فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ الَّيْلُ]

(When the night overcame him) covered him with darkness,

[رَأَى كَوْكَباً]

(He saw a Kawkab) a star.

[قَالَ هَـذَا رَبِّى فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ]

(He said: "This is my lord.'' But when it Afala,) meaning, set, he said,

[لا أُحِبُّ الاٌّفِلِينَ]

(I like not those that set.) Qatadah commented, "Ibrahim knew that his Lord is Eternal and never ceases.''

[فَلَمَّآ رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغاً قَالَ هَـذَا رَبِّى فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِى رَبِّى لاّكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّآلِّينَ ]

[رَبِّى]

(When he saw the moon rising up, he said: "This is my lord.'' But when it set, he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among the misguided people.'' When he saw the sun rising up, he said: "This is my lord.'') this radiating, rising star is my lord,

[هَـذَآ أَكْبَرُ]

(This is greater) bigger than the star and the moon, and more radiant.

[فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ]

(But when it Afalat) set,

[قَالَ يقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَإِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ]

(he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with Allah. Verily, I have turned my face...''), meaning, I have purified my religion and made my worship sincere,

[لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ]

("towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth,'') Who originated them and shaped them without precedence,

[حَنِيفاً]

(Hanifan) avoiding Shirk and embracing Tawhid. This is why he said next,

[وَمَآ أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ]

("and I am not of the idolators.'')