So he said to them—making it plain that he himself felt no fear and that the real danger lay with them—
“ How should I fear what you associate (with Him), while you yourselves do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He sent down to you no warrant? Which of the two parties is worthier of safety, if you only knew? ” (6:81).

Allah answered this rhetorical question with a response that embraces this incident (1) and every similar case at all times (2):
“ Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing—meaning with idolatry—such people shall have security, and they are rightly guided. ” (6:82)

Thus Allah exalted His intimate friend Abraham by granting him knowledge and enabling him to establish the proof, while his opponents were left powerless to defend their falsehood. Yet they stubbornly insisted on clinging to their ways; neither admonition, nor reminders, nor clear proofs availed them in the least.

He continued, therefore, to call them to Allah and to forbid them from what they worshipped, both in general terms and in specific detail. The one he addressed most was his own father, Azar. Abraham invited him through several beneficial approaches, but:
“ Indeed, those for whom the word of your Lord has come into effect will never believe, even if every sign should come to them, until they behold the painful punishment. ” (10:96-97)

Among the things he said to his father were:
“ When he said to his father, ‘My dear father, why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees nor can benefit you in any way? My dear father, knowledge has come to me that has not come to you…’ ” (19:42-43).

Observe the beauty of this heart-winning address: he did not bluntly say, “You are ignorant,” lest harsh words repel him. Instead he continued:
“ So follow me; I will guide you to a straight path. My dear father, do not worship Satan, for Satan has always been rebellious toward the Most Merciful. My dear father, I fear lest a punishment from the Most Merciful should touch you, and then you would become a friend of Satan. ” (19:43-45)

He kept moving from one style of appeal to another, in the hope that something might reach his father or bring benefit. Even so, his father retorted:
“ Do you turn away from my gods, Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you; so keep away from me for a long while. ” (19:46)