Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 74–81

6. Al-An'aam · The Cattle

Makkan165 verses

۞ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

6:74When Abraham said to Azar, his father, ‘Do you take idols for gods? Indeed I see you and your people in manifest error.’1

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ

6:75Thus did We show Abraham the dominions of the heavens and the earth, that he might be of those who possess certitude.2

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًۭا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْءَافِلِينَ

6:76When night darkened over him, he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord!’ But when it set, he said, ‘I do not like those who set.’3

فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْقَمَرَ بَازِغًۭا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِى رَبِّى لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

6:77Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord!’ But when it set, he said, ‘Had my Lord not guided me, I would surely have been among the astray lot.’

فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةًۭ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى هَٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

6:78Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord! This is bigger!’ But when it set, he said, ‘O my people, indeed I disown what you take as [His] partners.’

إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

6:79‘Indeed I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, as a Hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists.’

وَحَآجَّهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ ۚ قَالَ أَتُحَٰٓجُّوٓنِّى فِى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنِ ۚ وَلَآ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْـًۭٔا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ

6:80His people argued with him. He said, ‘Do you argue with me concerning Allah, while He has guided me for certain? I do not fear what you ascribe to Him as [His] partners, excepting anything that my Lord may wish. My Lord embraces all things in [His] knowledge. Will you not then take admonition?

وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَٰنًۭا ۚ فَأَىُّ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

6:81How could I fear what you ascribe [to Him] as [His] partners, when you do not fear ascribing to Allah partners for which He has not sent down any authority to you? So [tell me,] which of the two sides has a greater right to safety, if you know?

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 74

1.There are different views regarding Aazar; whether he was the father of Ibrahim (a.s.) or his uncle. The result of this contraersy is that : Can any of the ancestors of the Prophet (s.a.) be infidel or polytheist. Muslims who are convinced of this possibility have faith on the apparent words and say that Aazar was the father of Ibrahim (a.s.) and those who think there, is no such possibility as the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) himself has stated about his light passing through pure loins, conslder Aazar as the uncle and say that he was a father in the sense of bringing up Ibrahim (a.s.). In any case the truth is that ancestors of the Prophet (s.a.) have to be monotheists and not polytheists, but this is not a principle of Islamic faith that those who deny it be consider infidels.

Verse 76

2.One should not misunderstand from this style that Ibrahim (a.s.) accepted sun, moon or stars as God and neither is it a debate to a gathering. It is the state of affairs of the universe with which Ibrahim (a.s.) argued about the existence of Allah and clarified that religion without proof has no value. And also explained that proof does not require the complications of logic and philosophy. Only watching the moon and stars is sufficient as proof of Allah’s Oneness.

Verse 80

3.When falsehood faces defeat in the field of argument it takes the help of intimidation. Ibrahim (a.s.) also solved this matter that true believers of Allah are never afraid of falsehood. When the believers of idols do not fear Allah why should behevers of Allah be afraid of their idols? Would that people of Islam would be attentive towards this point.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 1

    The word Aazar is as per the rules is on the wazn of Fel (verb) and from the aspect of Ajamyat and Amalayat it is not conjugative. As per the facts Aazar was the uncle or maternal grandfather of Ibrahim (a.s.). The name of his respected father was Tarukh though some conunentators has taken the apparent meaning and considered him to be the father of Ibrahim (a.s.).

  2. 2

    Just as the Almighty revealed to Ibrahim (a.s.) the ignominy of the idols He also made the secrets of the creation of the heavens and the earth known to him.

  3. 3

    This is the best way of drawing a corollary. That instead of rejecting outright the beliefs of the infidels we accept them first and then to argue on its results. So that he also gets the chance to ponder that his beliefs are illogical and irrational.

  4. Benefit

    The 88th ayat is the best way of discussion. When the infidels have no fear of the Almighty and they dare to set up partners with Him, how can the believers harbour any fear of these powerless gods?