فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَٰذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَّهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ 58
Translations
So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question].
Transliteration
FajaAAalahum judhadhан illа kabeeran lahum laAAallahum ilayhi yarjiAAoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) breaking the idols worshipped by his people, leaving only the largest idol intact so that the people would question them about who destroyed the others. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was a wise pedagogical method to make his community reflect on the futility of their idolatry and the powerlessness of their gods. The phrase 'judhadhан' (fragments/pieces) emphasizes the complete destruction, while sparing the chief idol was meant to provoke thought and draw them back to monotheism (tawheed).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim's struggle against idolatry in Surah Al-Anbiya. It occurs within the Meccan period when the early Muslim community faced similar polytheistic practices. The context shows Ibrahim's bold rejection of his people's false religion and his use of intellectual argument through action, demonstrating that prophets employed various methods to guide their people toward Allah's oneness.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this ayah's incident, Sahih Bukhari and other sources contain reports about the Prophet's teaching methodology and his rejection of idolatry, which parallels Ibrahim's approach. The general principle of using wisdom (hikmah) in da'wah is supported throughout hadith literature.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that effective guidance sometimes requires thought-provoking actions that challenge false beliefs at their foundation, and that believers should use wisdom and reason in their da'wah. It reminds us that true faith comes through reflection and conviction, not blind tradition, and that we must be willing to question and reject falsehood even when it is culturally entrenched.