أَوْ تَقُولُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَشْرَكَ ءَابَآؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ ٱلْمُبْطِلُونَ 173
Translations
Or [lest] you say, "It was only that our fathers associated [others in worship] with Allāh before, and we were but descendants after them. Then would You destroy us for what the falsifiers have done?"
Transliteration
Aw taqūlū inna-mā ashrika ābāʾunā min qablu wa-kunnā dhurriyyatan min baʿdihim, aftuhlikuna bi-mā faʿala al-mubtilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who attempt to excuse their shirk (polytheism) by claiming they merely inherited idolatry from their forefathers and had no choice in the matter. Allah rejects this excuse, asking rhetorically whether He would destroy them for the false deeds of others—emphasizing personal accountability and the invalidity of blind following of ancestral practices. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this verse establishes that ignorance and inherited disbelief do not absolve one of responsibility, especially when clear signs and messengers have been sent.
Revelation Context
This verse appears in the context of Surah Al-A'raf's discussion of accountability on the Day of Judgment. It responds to common excuses the polytheists of Mecca offered for their idolatry, which they attributed to cultural tradition rather than personal choice. The broader surah emphasizes that Allah sends clear guidance and holds each soul accountable for its actions.
Related Hadiths
The principle relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) stated that every child is born on the natural disposition (fitrah), and it is the parents who turn them toward Judaism, Christianity, or fire. This establishes individual capacity for choice and responsibility despite family influence.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should not blindly follow cultural or familial practices without examining them against Islamic teachings, as each person bears responsibility for their own beliefs and actions before Allah, regardless of what their ancestors practiced.