أَئِفْكًا ءَالِهَةً دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ 86
Translations
Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allāh you desire?
Transliteration
A-ifkan alihatan duna Allahi tureedun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Prophet Ibrahim's rhetorical question to his people, condemning their worship of false gods besides Allah. The word 'ifk' (إفك) means fabrication or falsehood, and Ibrahim is emphasizing the absurdity and deceptive nature of idolatry. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that Ibrahim is confronting his nation's irrational abandonment of monotheistic worship in favor of invented deities, highlighting the fundamental contradiction between reason and polytheism.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) in Surah As-Saffat, where Ibrahim directly challenges the idolatrous beliefs of his people. The surah focuses on those who rank themselves in worship, and Ibrahim's account illustrates the courage required to stand against widespread falsehood and call people to pure monotheism (tawhid). This is a Meccan surah addressing the polytheistic practices of pre-Islamic Arabia.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk)' - a principle exemplified by Ibrahim's rejection of polytheism. This relates to the broader hadith tradition emphasizing tawhid as the foundation of Islam, found in various collections including Sahih Bukhari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to boldly question and reject false beliefs and idolatry in all its forms, whether literal idol worship or the subtle shirk of modern times (wealth, status, desires). It demonstrates that authentic faith requires intellectual honesty and the courage to stand against societal norms when they contradict divine truth.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَـٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓا۟ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allāh, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.
وَلَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ ٱلدِّينُ وَاصِبًا ۚ أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ
And to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him is [due] worship constantly. Then is it other than Allāh that you fear?
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a warner, and there is not any deity except Allāh, the One, the Prevailing,