فَرَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ 64
Translations
So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."
Transliteration
Faraja'u ila anfusihim faqaloo innakum antumu adh-dhalimoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment when the people who destroyed Prophet Ibrahim's idols were confronted with the absurdity of their actions. Upon reflection, they realized that they themselves were the wrongdoers—for they had created and worshipped these lifeless statues, and then destroyed them, proving the idols' powerlessness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this represents a turning point where the people's own intellect and conscience convicted them of their shirk (polytheism) and irrationality.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his confrontation with his people's idolatry (verses 51-70 of Surah Al-Anbiya). The context describes how Ibrahim smashed the idols except the largest one, then challenged the people: if the idols could speak, let the big one answer. When they realized the idols could not respond, they turned back upon themselves in shame and self-reflection, leading to this confession of wrongdoing.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah, the theme relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet emphasized the use of intellect ('aql) in recognizing tawhid (monotheism). The ayah illustrates how reason itself condemns polytheism.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true guidance often comes through personal reflection and the honest use of our intellect; when we sincerely examine our beliefs and actions in light of reason and conscience, we naturally turn away from falsehood toward truth.
Related Ayahs
لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَٔلُونَ
He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى ٱلزَّبُورِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلذِّكْرِ أَنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ
And We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.
فَفَهَّمْنَـٰهَا سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].
وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هَـٰذَا ٱلْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And they say, "When is this promise, if you should be truthful?"