(69–104) “And recite to them the account of Abraham, when he said to his father and his people, ‘What do you worship?’” through to the end of this account: “Indeed, your Lord is truly the Almighty, the Most Merciful.”
That is: O Muhammad, recite to the people the account of Abraham, Allah’s close friend, and his momentous story concerning this particular episode. There are many accounts of him, but this is among the most remarkable and excellent: it encompasses his mission, his call to his people, his arguments against them, and his refutation of their practices. He therefore specified the occasion, saying:
“When he said to his father and his people, ‘What do you worship?’ They said”—boasting of their worship—“We worship idols,” which we carve and make with our own hands, “and we remain devoted to them,” meaning that they spent much of their time persistently worshipping them.
Abraham then explained why they were unworthy of worship, saying: “Do they hear you when you call” and thus answer your prayers, relieve your distress, and remove every affliction from you? “Or do they benefit or harm you?”
They admitted that the idols possessed none of these qualities: they neither heard prayers, brought benefit, nor caused harm. Thus, when Abraham broke them and said, “Rather, this largest one of them did it. Ask them, if they can speak,” they said to him, “You certainly know that these do not speak.” ⦗593⦘ That is, this was an established fact about them, admitting neither doubt nor dispute.
They therefore resorted to blindly following their misguided forefathers and said, “Rather, we found our forefathers doing the same.” So we followed them in this, took their path, and upheld their customs. Abraham said to them: You and your forefathers are all my adversaries in this matter, and the same argument applies to you all.
“Have you considered what you have been worshipping—you and your forefathers of old? They are indeed enemies to me.” Let them cause me even the slightest harm or scheme against me; they are incapable of doing so.
“Except the Lord of all worlds, who created me and therefore guides me.” He alone bestows the blessing of creation and the blessing of guidance toward what serves one’s religious and worldly interests.
He then singled out some essential blessings, saying:
“And He is the One who feeds me and gives me drink; when I become ill, He heals me; He is the One who will cause me to die and then bring me to life; and He is the One whom I hope will forgive my sin on the Day of Judgment.”
He alone possesses exclusive power over all of this. He must therefore be worshipped and obeyed alone, while these idols must be abandoned. They neither create nor guide; neither cause illness nor cure it; neither feed nor provide drink; neither cause death nor give life. Nor do they benefit their worshippers by relieving distress or forgiving sins.
This is a decisive proof and a manifest argument which neither you nor your forefathers can refute. It therefore demonstrates that you all share in misguidance and in forsaking the path of guidance and sound judgment. Allah Almighty says: “His people disputed with him. He said, ‘Do you dispute with me concerning Allah when He has guided me?’” and the verses that follow.
Then he (peace be upon him) called upon his Lord, saying: “My Lord, grant me wisdom”—that is, abundant knowledge by which I may understand religious rulings, what is lawful and unlawful, and judge among people—“and join me with the righteous,” among his brethren, the prophets and messengers.