قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ 56
Translations
He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.
Transliteration
Qāla bal rabbukum rabb as-samāwāti wal-ardi alladhī fatarahunna wa-anā 'alā dhālikum min ash-shāhidīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) responds to his people's defense of their idols by asserting that their true Lord is the Creator of the heavens and earth who brought them into existence, and he stands as a witness to this truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Ibrahim's response demonstrates the logical argument against polytheism—that only the Creator of all existence deserves worship, not carved objects. This ayah illustrates the methodology of prophetic da'wah (call to Allah) through clear reasoning and testimony to the oneness of Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's confrontation with his people regarding their idol worship (verses 51-67 of Surah Al-Anbya). The context shows Ibrahim discovering the futility of idolatry and calling his people toward monotheism, eventually destroying the idols and declaring his stand against shirk (polytheism).
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself (37:95-96) records Ibrahim's statement: 'Do you worship that which you carve, while Allah has created you and that which you make?' Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records hadiths about Ibrahim's opposition to idolatry and his role as a messenger bringing people to the straight path.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the foundation of faith is recognizing Allah as the sole Creator and Lord deserving worship, and that standing firm in this conviction—even when opposed—is a sacred duty. For modern Muslims, it emphasizes the importance of intellectual clarity in faith and the courage to witness to truth regardless of societal pressure.
Related Ayahs
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ شَيْـًٔا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
And they worship besides Allāh that which does not possess for them [the power of] provision from the heavens and the earth at all, and [in fact], they are unable.
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَـٰنُ لِٱبْنِهِۦ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُۥ يَـٰبُنَىَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Luqmān said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allāh. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice."
وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعْطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلْقَهُۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ
He said, "Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it]."