قَالُوا۟ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَـٰبِدِينَ 53
Translations
They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them."
Transliteration
Qalū wa-jadnā ābāʾanā lahā ʿābidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers respond to Prophet Ibrahim's call to abandon idol worship by saying they found their fathers worshipping these idols, using ancestral tradition as justification for their continued polytheism. This ayah illustrates the spiritual blindness of those who follow inherited customs without rational examination, a theme emphasized by classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari as exemplifying blind imitation (taqlīd) in religious matters. The response reflects humanity's tendency to rationalize false beliefs through the argument of precedent and tradition.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his confrontation with his people regarding their idolatry, occurring in the Meccan period. It addresses the Quraysh's similar reliance on ancestral custom to justify their idol worship, making it contextually relevant to the Prophet Muhammad's mission in pre-Islamic Arabia where tribal and family traditions bound people to polytheistic practices.
Related Hadiths
The concept of following fathers blindly in falsehood is addressed in the hadith: 'Most of my people will not enter Paradise except by the Mercy of Allah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), and Surah Al-Zukhruf 43:22-23 elaborates on this same theme of ancestral imitation, which is frequently referenced in hadith collections regarding spiritual accountability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that inherited beliefs and cultural practices must be examined through the lens of divine guidance rather than blindly accepted; Muslims are called to think critically about their faith and not merely follow traditions without understanding their basis in Quranic truth.
Related Ayahs
فَفَهَّمْنَـٰهَا سُلَيْمَـٰنَ ۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَٱلطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ
And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
وَمِنَ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ مَن يَغُوصُونَ لَهُۥ وَيَعْمَلُونَ عَمَلًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَكُنَّا لَهُمْ حَـٰفِظِينَ
And of the devils [i.e., jinn] were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian.