Despite this, Abraham did not become angry, nor did he repay his father in kind. Rather, he met that grave insult with kindness and said, “Peace be upon you” (19:47)—meaning, “I will address you only with goodly words,”(1) free of harshness or roughness. Even so, he had not despaired of his father’s guidance: “I shall seek forgiveness for you from my Lord; indeed, He has always been gracious toward me” (19:47)—ever kind and merciful, accustomed to treating me with His subtle favors, carrying me along His beautiful graces, and never ceasing to answer my supplications.

Abraham continued to invite his people and debate with them, confounding them and demolishing all their arguments and suspicions. He—peace and blessings be upon him—resolved to confront them with the most decisive proof and to stand firm against their aggression, tyranny, power, and strength, showing neither fear nor hesitation. On a day when they all went out to celebrate one of their festivals, he went with them, then “cast a glance at the stars and said, ‘I am sick’” (37:88-89). He feared that if he remained behind for any other reason he would not attain his goal, for he had openly shown enmity toward the idols, emphatically forbidden them, and struggled against their devotees. When they had all gone into the open countryside, he turned back to their shrine, smashed every idol into pieces, and left only the largest one intact so that he might bind them with the proof.

When they returned from their festival, they hastened to their idols out of passionate longing(2) and love, only to behold the most dreadful sight their worshippers had ever seen. They cried, “Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers!” (21:59). Others said, “We heard a young man speaking of them”—that is, disparaging them and describing them with words of deficiency and evil—“he is called Abraham” (21:60). Once they were certain that he was the one who had broken them, they declared, “Bring him before the eyes of the people so that they may testify” (21:61), that is, in the presence of the great multitude. They rebuked him with the harshest reproach and inflicted punishment upon him—exactly what Abraham intended, so that the truth might be displayed before everyone’s eyes and ears. When the people were assembled and Abraham was brought forward, they said, “Are you…"