وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًا مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ ثُمَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ 25
Translations
And [Abraham] said, "You have only taken, other than Allāh, idols as [a bond of] affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers."
Transliteration
Wa qāla innamā ittakhaḏtum min dūni-llāhi awthānan mawaddatan baynaḳum fī-l-ḥayāti-d-dunyā, thumma yawma-l-qiyāmati yakfuru baʿḍuḳum bibaʿḍin wa yalʿanu baʿḍuḳum baʿḍan, wa maʾwāḳumu-n-nāru wa mā laḳum min nāṣirīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Ibrahīm reproaches his people for taking idols as objects of veneration, claiming they do this merely to maintain social bonds and affection in worldly life. However, on the Day of Judgment, these false bonds will dissolve completely—the idolaters will disavow one another and curse each other—and their final abode will be the Fire with no one to help them. This ayah illustrates how worldly alliances based on falsehood crumble before divine truth, emphasizing that only devotion to Allah provides lasting security and protection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-'Ankabut, a Meccan surah revealed during the period of intense Meccan opposition to the Prophet. The ayah occurs within Ibrahīm's direct address to his people, reflecting the historical rejection he faced when calling them to monotheism. The broader context emphasizes the futility of idolatry and the inevitable consequences of rejecting divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reinforced in the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of those who love each other for the sake of Allah is like a building whose bricks strengthen one another.' This contrasts with false bonds built on idolatry. Additionally, Tirmidhi records that worldly friendships based on falsehood will turn to enmity on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
Social bonds and affections built on falsehood and disobedience to Allah are temporary and will ultimately become sources of regret and enmity. True, lasting relationships and security come only through devotion to Allah, and believers should prioritize spiritual alignment over worldly conformity with those who reject divine guidance.