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
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And We have not sent you, [O Muḥammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
لَا يَحْزُنُهُمُ ٱلْفَزَعُ ٱلْأَكْبَرُ وَتَتَلَقَّىٰهُمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ هَـٰذَا يَوْمُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
They will not be grieved by the greatest terror, and the angels will meet them, [saying], "This is your Day which you have been promised" -
فَٱسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُۥ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِۦ مِن ضُرٍّ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَـٰبِدِينَ
So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allāh].