قَالُوٓا۟ ءَأَنتَ فَعَلْتَ هَـٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَا يَـٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ 62
Translations
They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"
Transliteration
Qālū a-anta fa'alta hādhā bi-ālihatinā yā-Ibrāhīmu
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people of Ibrahim's community confronted him, asking if he was responsible for destroying their idols. This ayah depicts the moment after Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had broken all the idols except the largest one, which he hung the axe upon. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this rhetorical question was designed to trap Ibrahim, expecting him to either deny his action or admit to it, thereby giving them grounds for punishment. The ayah illustrates the pivotal moment of Ibrahim's clear rejection of idolatry and his monotheistic stand against his people's false worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's confrontation with his people regarding their idolatry (21:51-67). The context describes how Ibrahim destroyed the idols in the temple while his people were away, and upon their return, they discovered the destruction and questioned him. This narrative emphasizes Ibrahim's courage in openly challenging polytheism and serves as a historical lesson about the struggle between monotheism and idolatry.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, Sahih Bukhari contains narrations about Ibrahim's life and his rejection of idolatry. Additionally, the Quranic narrative itself is corroborated in Surah As-Saffat (37:83-98) and Surah Al-An'am (6:74-82), which recount similar details of Ibrahim's monotheistic struggle.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers the importance of unwavering faith and courage in standing against societal pressure and false beliefs, even when facing confrontation from one's own community. It reminds us that truth may require sacrifice and that champions of monotheism throughout history have faced opposition, yet remained steadfast in their conviction.
Related Ayahs
وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided.
وَلِسُلَيْمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِى بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكْنَا فِيهَا ۚ وَكُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ
And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing.
قَالُوا۟ مَن فَعَلَ هَـٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."
فَلَمَّآ أَحَسُّوا۟ بَأْسَنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنْهَا يَرْكُضُونَ
And when they [i.e., its inhabitants] perceived Our punishment, at once they fled from it.