سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 57
وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَـٰمَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ ﴿57﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"And by Allâh, I shall plot a plan (to destroy) your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَتَٱللَّهِ
watal-lahi
And by Allah
لَأَكِيدَنَّ
la-akīdanna
surely, I will plan
أَصْنَـٰمَكُم
aṣnāmakum
(against) your idols
بَعْدَ
baʿda
after
أَن
an
[that]
تُوَلُّوا۟
tuwallū
you go away
مُدْبِرِينَ
mud'birīna
turning (your) backs
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 57) ➊ { وَ تَاللّٰهِ لَاَكِيْدَنَّ اَصْنَامَكُمْ … :} After rejecting the idols verbally, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) understood that merely explaining to these people by words was not enough; rather, eradicating the deeply rooted belief in the divinity and problem-solving power of these idols from their minds was not possible without a powerful practical action, through which their helplessness would become clearly evident. Since reaching them and taking action was not easy, he chose the day for this task when, due to everyone going to the festival, there would be an opportunity to act. See Surah As-Saffat (88 to 90).
➋ Before proving the falsehood of the idols through action, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) announced his intention by swearing by Allah. Some people secretly break solid graves, shrines, or idols and go into hiding, and they call this the Sunnah of Ibrahim, but if they are truly followers of the Sunnah of Ibrahim, then they should do this work openly, so that they themselves are responsible for the consequences and show steadfastness like Ibrahim (peace be upon him). It should not be that someone else acts and someone else bears the consequences.
➌ Some commentators have written that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said this in his heart. Some have written that when everyone had left, he said this in the presence of one or two people. The truth is that all these are Israiliyat. The Holy Quran has clearly mentioned that he said this in front of his father and his people. However, it never occurred to his people that such a thing could happen, so they did not pay any attention to it.
➋ Before proving the falsehood of the idols through action, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) announced his intention by swearing by Allah. Some people secretly break solid graves, shrines, or idols and go into hiding, and they call this the Sunnah of Ibrahim, but if they are truly followers of the Sunnah of Ibrahim, then they should do this work openly, so that they themselves are responsible for the consequences and show steadfastness like Ibrahim (peace be upon him). It should not be that someone else acts and someone else bears the consequences.
➌ Some commentators have written that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said this in his heart. Some have written that when everyone had left, he said this in the presence of one or two people. The truth is that all these are Israiliyat. The Holy Quran has clearly mentioned that he said this in front of his father and his people. However, it never occurred to his people that such a thing could happen, so they did not pay any attention to it.
