“When he said to his father and his people, ‘What are these statues to which you are devoted?’ (52) They said, ‘We found our forefathers worshipping them.’ (53) He said, ‘You and your forefathers have certainly been in manifest error.’ (54) They said, ‘Have you brought us the truth, or are you among those who merely play?’ (55) He said, ‘Rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them, and I am among those who bear witness to this.’ (56) And by Allah, I shall surely devise a plan against your idols after you have turned and departed.” (57)

“What are these statues?” That is, these images—meaning the idols—“to which you are devoted?” That is, remaining steadfast in their worship. “They said, ‘We found our forefathers worshipping them,’” so we followed their example. Abraham said, “You and your forefathers have certainly been in manifest error”: in clear error through your worship of them. “They said, ‘Have you brought us the truth, or are you among those who merely play?’” That is, they meant: Are you serious in what you are saying, or are you among those who jest? (1)

He said, “Rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them”—that is, brought them into existence—“and I am among those who bear witness to this”: that is, bearing witness that He is the God and that none besides Him deserves worship. It was also said: among those who bear witness that He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. “And by Allah, I shall surely devise a plan against your idols”: I shall scheme against them, “after you have turned and departed,” that is, after you have gone away, setting out for your festival.

Mujahid and Qatadah said: Abraham said this secretly, concealing it from his people; only one man heard it, and he disclosed it concerning him, saying, “We heard a young man speaking of them, called Abraham.”

Al-Suddi said: Every year they held a gathering and a festival. When they returned from their festival, they would enter upon the idols and prostrate to them, then return to their homes. When that festival came around, Abraham’s father said to him, “O Abraham, if you were to go out with us to our festival, you would admire our religion.” So Abraham went out with them. When he had reached a point along the way, he threw himself down and said, “Indeed, I am