سُوْرَةُ الشُّعَرَآءِ
Surah Ash-Shu'araa (26) — Ayah 74
قَالُوا۟ بَلْ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿74﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They said: "(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
بَلْ
bal
Nay
وَجَدْنَآ
wajadnā
but we found
ءَابَآءَنَا
ābāanā
our forefathers
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
like that
يَفْعَلُونَ
yafʿalūna
doing
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.
74. They replied, "No, but we found our forefathers doing the same [51]."
[51]
The Question of Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) to His People Regarding Idols:
The questions that Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) asked the polytheists of his people pertained to such attributes that are essential for a true deity. That is, He should hear the call or plea of the supplicant and then also respond to it. He should have the power to fulfill needs and also be able to protect from harm and distress. If these attributes are not found in a deity, then that deity can only be false, not true. And in reality, these questions are, in the sense of "words come from the stories of others," questions to the Quraysh of Makkah regarding their deities. The people of Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) could not answer his questions. The only answer they could possibly give was that since our forefathers have been doing this and it has been happening for ages, therefore we cannot abandon this practice. Our forefathers were wiser, greater, and more pious than us. After all, they must have seen some benefit in worshipping these idols. That is why they started this practice; surely they must have had some reasoning as well?
[51]
The Question of Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) to His People Regarding Idols:
The questions that Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) asked the polytheists of his people pertained to such attributes that are essential for a true deity. That is, He should hear the call or plea of the supplicant and then also respond to it. He should have the power to fulfill needs and also be able to protect from harm and distress. If these attributes are not found in a deity, then that deity can only be false, not true. And in reality, these questions are, in the sense of "words come from the stories of others," questions to the Quraysh of Makkah regarding their deities. The people of Prophet Ibrahim (ؑ) could not answer his questions. The only answer they could possibly give was that since our forefathers have been doing this and it has been happening for ages, therefore we cannot abandon this practice. Our forefathers were wiser, greater, and more pious than us. After all, they must have seen some benefit in worshipping these idols. That is why they started this practice; surely they must have had some reasoning as well?
