قَالُوا۟ فَأْتُوا۟ بِهِۦ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِ ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ 61
Translations
They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."
Transliteration
Qāloo fa-'too bih 'alá a'yuni an-nāsi la'allahum yashhādoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people of Prophet Ibrahim's time demanded that he bring his idols before them publicly so that witnesses could observe what would happen to them. This ayah is part of the narrative where Ibrahim destroyed the idols, and when confronted by his people, he challenged them to bring the largest idol forward to be examined. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this demonstrates the people's obstinacy and their demand for public accountability, setting the stage for Ibrahim's decisive action that would expose the falsehood of idol worship.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the well-known story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his confrontation with his people regarding their idol worship. The surah recounts how Ibrahim destroyed the idols in the temple, and when questioned, he attributed the act to the biggest idol among them—a logical challenge meant to demonstrate the absurdity of idol worship to those who witnessed it.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this verse, Sahih Bukhari contains accounts of Ibrahim's breaking of the idols, emphasizing the theme of exposing false beliefs through evidence and reason, which aligns with the challenge presented in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us the importance of addressing falsehood openly and inviting people to witness truth with their own eyes, rather than merely accepting claims. It reminds believers that faith should be defended with wisdom and clear evidence, making it difficult for those of understanding to deny the truth.
Related Ayahs
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ
Until when [the dam of] Gog and Magog has been opened and they, from every elevation, descend
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُۥ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَـٰذَا فَسْـَٔلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا۟ يَنطِقُونَ
He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak."
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."
وَذَا ٱلنُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَـٰضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ أَن لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And [mention] the man of the fish [i.e., Jonah], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."