أُفٍّ لَّكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 67
Translations
Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allāh. Then will you not use reason?"
Transliteration
Uffin lakum wa lima ta'budoona min doonillah. Afa la ta'qiloon?
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) expresses his disapproval and contempt toward his people's idolatry, declaring 'Uff' (a word expressing disgust and rejection) against them and the idols they worship besides Allah. He challenges them rhetorically, asking if they possess any intellect or understanding, implying that rational thought should lead them away from the absurdity of idol worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Ibrahim's words represent the strongest possible rejection while still maintaining civil discourse, showing how the prophets communicated truth with both firmness and wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's confrontation with his idolatrous people and father (Azar), a recurring theme in Surah Al-Anbiya which chronicles various prophets and their struggles against disbelief. The context shows Ibrahim's intellectual and moral stand against polytheism, emphasizing that prophethood involves both invitation to truth and clear rejection of falsehood.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest act of worship is to love for Allah and hate for Allah' (Sunan Abu Dawud). This relates to Ibrahim's passionate rejection of idolatry rooted in sincere devotion to Allah alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that faith should be grounded in rational reflection and that standing against falsehood, however popular, is a fundamental aspect of spiritual integrity. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to examine their beliefs critically and to have the courage to reject practices and ideologies that contradict divine guidance, regardless of social pressure.