سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 52
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـٰكِفُونَ ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِذْ
idh
When
قَالَ
qāla
he said
لِأَبِيهِ
li-abīhi
to his father
وَقَوْمِهِۦ
waqawmihi
and his people
مَا
mā
What
هَـٰذِهِ
hādhihi
(are) these
ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ
l-tamāthīlu
[the] statues
ٱلَّتِىٓ
allatī
which
أَنتُمْ
antum
you
لَهَا
lahā
to it
عَـٰكِفُونَ
ʿākifūna
(are) devoted
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted in worship?" [47]
[47] It was the demand of this wisdom of Ibrahim ؑ that when he saw his father and the people of his community prostrating before lifeless and motionless idols, he immediately began to ponder in his heart: What is the benefit of prostrating before these lifeless stones, which can neither move, nor hear, nor speak? To prostrate before such things is nothing but a complete insult and humiliation of humanity. For a long time, he inwardly grieved and felt aversion towards this inhuman act of his people. Eventually, compelled by the demand of his nature, he finally asked his father and his people this question: Tell me as well, what is the benefit of sitting before these lifeless idols and being engaged in their worship?
[47] It was the demand of this wisdom of Ibrahim ؑ that when he saw his father and the people of his community prostrating before lifeless and motionless idols, he immediately began to ponder in his heart: What is the benefit of prostrating before these lifeless stones, which can neither move, nor hear, nor speak? To prostrate before such things is nothing but a complete insult and humiliation of humanity. For a long time, he inwardly grieved and felt aversion towards this inhuman act of his people. Eventually, compelled by the demand of his nature, he finally asked his father and his people this question: Tell me as well, what is the benefit of sitting before these lifeless idols and being engaged in their worship?
