Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 77

(Ayah 77) ➊ It is on the pattern of {فَاِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّيْۤ اِلَّا رَبَّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ: ’’ عَدُوٌّ ‘‘ ’’فَعُوْلٌ‘‘}, singular, plural, masculine, and feminine, used equally for all, that is why in {’’ فَاِنَّهُمْ ‘‘} even though it is the predicate of a plural, the singular is used. That is, all those things which you and your earliest forefathers have been worshipping are my enemies. Yes, if any among them has also worshipped {’’رب العالمين‘‘}, then only {’’رب العالمين‘‘} is my friend.

➋ Here is a question: Ibrahim was the enemy of the idols (peace be upon him), but what enmity did the idols have with him? So instead of saying that I am their enemy, why was it said that they are my enemies? There are two answers to this: one is that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) wanted to tell them that those whom you worship besides Allah, no matter how much you love them or worship them, on the Day of Resurrection they will become your enemies. Only the pure being of Allah, the Exalted, will remain the friend of His worshippers, as Allah the Exalted has said: «{ وَ مَنْ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنْ يَّدْعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ مَنْ لَّا يَسْتَجِيْبُ لَهٗۤ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ وَ هُمْ عَنْ دُعَآىِٕهِمْ غٰفِلُوْنَ (5) وَ اِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوْا لَهُمْ اَعْدَآءً وَّ كَانُوْا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كٰفِرِيْنَ }» [ الأحقاف : ۵، ۶ ] "And who is more astray than he who calls upon, besides Allah, those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they are unaware of their supplication. And when the people are gathered together, they will be enemies to them and will deny their worship." The same thing is mentioned in Surah Al-Baqarah (165, 166) and Surah Maryam (81, 82). But instead of saying, "Your deities will be your enemies," Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said, "These deities of yours (if I worship them) will be my enemies." In this, he preserved wisdom and prudence in his invitation, so that the listener would think that just as Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is concerned that in the case of worshipping idols, he will gain nothing but their enmity, similarly, I should also be concerned for myself.

The second answer is that {’’ عَدُوٌّ ‘‘} (enemy) is not only used for one who is hostile to you, but also for one whom you are hostile to. When one wants to express intense enmity towards someone, it is said that he is my enemy, and when one wants to express intense love, it is said that he is my friend. Mirza Ghalib has said:
"This is what you call testing, then what do you call tormenting?
When you have become the enemy's, then why are you testing me?"
Thus, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) has, to express his intense enmity, declared them his enemy and "the Lord of the worlds" his friend.

➌ The expression of enmity towards idols by Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in these words has been expressed elsewhere in these words: «{وَ تَاللّٰهِ لَاَكِيْدَنَّ اَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ اَنْ تُوَلُّوْا مُدْبِرِيْنَ }» [ الأنبیاء : ۵۷ ] "And by Allah! I will surely secretly plan against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away." Then Ibrahim (peace be upon him) also demonstrated this enmity practically by breaking the idols. In these words, there is also the expression that I am not at all afraid of your idols, they cannot harm me in any way, my relationship with them and with you is one of enmity. (See Al-Mumtahanah: 4; Al-An'am: 80, 81) Other great messengers of Allah also openly declared regarding the disbelievers and their deities that they do not care what they can do against them, nor do they fear them. Regarding Nuh (peace be upon him), see Surah Yunus (71), and regarding Hud (peace be upon him), see Surah Hud (55, 56).

76-1. Because all of you worship others besides Allah. Some have explained its meaning as: those whom you and your forefathers have been worshipping, all those deities are my enemies, meaning I disassociate from them.

77-2. That is, He is not an enemy, rather He is my Guardian and Friend in this world and the Hereafter.

77. Indeed, they are enemies to me [52] (who will lead to Hell), except the Lord of all the worlds [53].

[52]
The Enmity of Sayyiduna Ibrahim with the Idols:

Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ did not say that these idols are your enemies, rather he said that these are my enemies. This was so that the people of the nation would not become provoked or become obstinate. And the mention of their enmity is present in Surah Maryam, verse number 82, that when on the Day of Resurrection Allah Almighty will bring the polytheists and their deities face to face, then these very deities, whether living or non-living, will become enemies to their worshippers and will say: "Fools! When did we ever tell you to worship us instead of Allah?" This is the enmity that will occur in the Hereafter, and today these are my enemies. Therefore, whatever harm they can do to me, I am present, I will see what harm they can cause me, and the necessary result of their being enemies is that I am also their enemy. That is, as much as I am able, I will also confront them. Accordingly, Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ did indeed confront these deities, the mention of which has already passed in Surah Anbiya, verses 57 and 58.

[53] I do not accept anyone as a deity except Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Because He alone is the Creator of the entire universe, the Owner, the One who nurtures them, and the One who controls and watches over them, and for the created and the owned, it is only appropriate that they should not serve anyone other than their Creator and Owner.