al-aṣnām (idols): the plural of ṣanam, meaning anything that has been carved in the shape of a human being or in the shape of any animal.

Overall meaning of the first verse: Allah, exalted be He, gives emphatic notice that He will not forgive a servant who meets Him while committing shirk, in order to warn us against associating partners with Him. Yet He forgives every sin short of shirk for whomever He wills, out of bounty and kindness, so that we do not despair of His mercy.

Overall meaning of the second verse: Abraham, the Intimate Friend—peace be upon him—prays to his Lord to place him and his children in a realm far removed from worshipping idols and to distance him from them, for the trial they pose is immense and no one can feel secure from falling into it.

Relevance of the two verses to this chapter: The first verse shows that shirk is the gravest of sins, for whoever dies upon it will not be forgiven; this obliges the servant to fear this sin intensely. The second verse shows that Abraham feared shirk for himself and asked Allah to protect him from it—so what of those below him? Both verses therefore establish the duty of fearing shirk.

Points derived from the two verses:
1- Shirk is the most serious of sins, because Allah has declared that He does not forgive it for one who fails to repent.
2- Sins other than shirk, if the person does not repent of them, remain under the divine will: if Allah wills, He forgives them without repentance, and if He wills, He punishes for them. This underscores the danger of shirk.
3- Fear of shirk, for Abraham—peace be upon him—who is the leader of the pure monotheists—