فَتَوَلَّوْا۟ عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ 90
Translations
So they turned away from him, departing.
Transliteration
Fatawallawu anhu mudbirin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the people turned away from Prophet Abraham in rejection and mockery after he destroyed their idols. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their turning away with their backs (mudbirin) represents their stubborn refusal to accept monotheism and their complete dismissal of Abraham's message. This turning away was not merely physical but symbolic of their spiritual rejection and hardness of heart toward the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah As-Saffat describing Abraham's confrontation with his idolatrous people. When Abraham destroyed the idols except the largest one and left an axe with it, the people's response was disbelief and mockery rather than reflection. This illustrates the typical response of those who rejected the prophets' messages during the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3373): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned that Abraham was tried with ten trials, all of which he fulfilled, connecting the theme of the prophets' persecution by their peoples. Also relevant is the general hadith about the rejection faced by all messengers as mentioned in various sources describing the challenges prophets endured.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that even when presented with clear signs and wisdom, people may still turn away due to arrogance and attachment to falsehood; believers should persevere in conveying truth and entrust outcomes to Allah, knowing that not all will accept the message.
Related Ayahs
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ
And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ
Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are for [i.e., in pursuit of] the Fire!
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا۟ لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
They said, "Indeed, we consider you a bad omen. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and there will surely touch you, from us, a painful punishment."
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَتَعْسًا لَّهُمْ وَأَضَلَّ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
But those who disbelieve - for them is misery, and He will waste their deeds.