۞ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ 74
Translations
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said to his father Āzar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."
Transliteration
Wa-idh qala Ibrahimu li-abih i Azara a-tattakhidhu asnaman alihatan inni araka wa-qawmaka fi dalalun mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
In this ayah, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) addresses his father Azar, calling him to abandon idol worship and monotheism. Ibrahim expresses his concern that both his father and his people are in clear error, using logical persuasion rooted in the recognition that idols—crafted objects—cannot deserve worship or divinity. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this marks the beginning of Ibrahim's prophetic mission and his patient struggle against idolatry, demonstrating the duty of believers to call their families to truth even when facing rejection.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's life in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan surah revealed during the early Meccan period. The context reflects the historical reality of Ibrahim's confrontation with his father's idolatry and the polytheistic practices of his people in Mesopotamia. This narrative serves as encouragement to Prophet Muhammad and believers in Mecca who were similarly opposed by their own families and tribes for calling to monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3475) narrates that the Prophet said: 'The most difficult people will be the Prophets, then those closest to them in righteousness,' reflecting Ibrahim's struggle with his father. Additionally, Surah Maryam 19:42-48 provides a parallel detailed account of this same conversation between Ibrahim and his father.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that calling loved ones—especially family—to the path of Allah is a sacred responsibility, and that one should use wisdom and clarity in addressing false beliefs, even when facing resistance. It reminds us that clarity of vision (both spiritual and intellectual) is a gift from Allah, and that the greatest error is turning away from monotheism despite its evident truth.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّن نَّزَّلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who sends down rain from the sky and gives life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Praise to Allāh"; but most of them do not reason.
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّمَا تَدْعُونَنِىٓ إِلَيْهِ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةٌ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ مَرَدَّنَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَنَّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ هُمْ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ
Assuredly, that to which you invite me has no [response to a] supplication in this world or in the Hereafter; and indeed, our return is to Allāh, and indeed, the transgressors will be companions of the Fire.
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلْخَلْقِ غَـٰفِلِينَ
And We have created above you seven layered heavens, and never have We been of [Our] creation unaware.
لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth. Indeed, Allāh is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.