قَالُوا۟ فَأْتُوا۟ بِهِۦ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِ ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ 61
Translations
They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."
Transliteration
Qāloo fa-'too bih 'alá a'yuni an-nāsi la'allahum yashhādoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people of Prophet Ibrahim's time demanded that he bring his idols before them publicly so that witnesses could observe what would happen to them. This ayah is part of the narrative where Ibrahim destroyed the idols, and when confronted by his people, he challenged them to bring the largest idol forward to be examined. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates the people's obstinacy and their demand for public accountability, setting the stage for Ibrahim's decisive action that would expose the falsehood of idol worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the well-known story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his confrontation with his people regarding their idol worship. The surah recounts how Ibrahim destroyed the idols in the temple, and when questioned, he attributed the act to the biggest idol among them—a logical challenge meant to demonstrate the absurdity of idol worship to those who witnessed it.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari contains accounts of Ibrahim's breaking of the idols, emphasizing the theme of exposing false beliefs through evidence and reason, which aligns with the challenge presented in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the importance of addressing falsehood openly and inviting people to witness truth with their own eyes, rather than merely accepting claims. It reminds believers that faith should be defended with wisdom and clear evidence, making it difficult for those of understanding to deny the truth.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
وَأَدْخَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.
وَعَلَّمْنَـٰهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَّكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُم مِّنۢ بَأْسِكُمْ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُمْ شَـٰكِرُونَ
And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your [enemy in] battle. So will you then be grateful?
وَلَئِن مَّسَّتْهُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And if [as much as] a whiff of the punishment of your Lord should touch them, they would surely say, "O woe to us! Indeed, we have been wrongdoers."