قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ 72
Translations
He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate?
Transliteration
Qala hal yasma'oonakum idh tad'oon
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) questions the idolaters about their carved idols, asking rhetorically whether these lifeless statues can even hear them when they call upon them in worship. This powerful rhetorical question exposes the absurdity and irrationality of idol worship, as the idols possess no capacity to hear, respond, or provide any benefit to their worshippers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah represents a logical argument against polytheism, demonstrating that true divinity requires the attributes of omniscience and responsiveness to supplication.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ash-Shu'ara, a Meccan surah that details the stories of various prophets and their calls to monotheism. The verse occurs within the account of Prophet Ibrahim's debate with his people regarding their idol worship. The broader context shows Ibrahim systematically dismantling the theological foundations of polytheism through reason and clear argumentation.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly quotes this ayah, the theme relates to Hadith Qudsi where Allah states: 'I am as My servant thinks of Me' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), emphasizing that Allah responds to sincere supplication—unlike the silent idols criticized here.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true worship must be directed toward the One who genuinely hears and responds—Allah alone—and that blind adherence to inherited practices without rational examination is spiritually destructive. It encourages Muslims to reflect critically on their faith and to base their beliefs on sound reasoning and evidence.