What is the interpretation of Allah the Exalted’s saying: “Have you not believed?” He said: “Yes, but to reassure my heart”
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Question : This questioner says: Allah the Exalted said in response to Ibrahim: [Al-Baqarah 2:260]? What is the purpose of Allah asking Ibrahim this, when He knows him best?
Answer : Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He,[Al-Baqarah 2:260] It is known that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, knew what was in the heart of Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him) and that he was a believer, but this question, [Al-Baqarah 2:260] is one that might be asked by a non-believer. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said, [Al-Baqarah 2:260] and by this interrogative, Allah the Exalted intended to establish Ibrahim's faith. Therefore, [Al-Baqarah 2:260], Allah the Exalted commanded that [Al-Baqarah 2:260] he call them. At that time, they would come running to him after he had placed a part of them on every mountain. He slaughtered them, cut them up, and distributed them among the mountains. Then he called them, and they came running to him. This is proof of the power of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and that [Ya-Sin 36:82] He said, [Ya-Sin 36:82]. And indeed, Allah the Exalted said, [Ya-Sin 36:53] meaning that Allah the Exalted called out to them with a single call, and they all came immediately. He said, [An-Nazi'at 79:13-14] meaning on the face of the earth. Allah the Exalted has stated in His Book a general verse: [Ya-Sin 36:82]. May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh, and may He bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
Have you not believed?
أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنAnswer : Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He,
And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." [Allah] said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied."
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِيMy Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.
رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰHave you not believed?
أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِنHe said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied."
قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِيTake four birds and commit them to yourself. Then [after slaughtering them] put on each hill a portion of them; then
فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ الطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّwhen He intends a thing that He says
إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ"Be," and it is.
لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُIt will not be but one blast, and at once they are all brought present before Us.
إِن كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ جَمِيعٌ لَّدَيْنَا مُحْضَرُونَ(13) Indeed, it will be but one shout, (14) And suddenly they will be [alert] upon the earth's surface.
فَإِنَّمَا هِيَ زَجْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِذَا هُم بِالسَّاهِرَةِHis command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 41- ما تفسير قوله تعالى اولم تؤمن قال بلى ولكن ليطمئن قلبي /سؤال على الهاتف /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.