Al Islam

c. 6:77. (close)

2492. It seems that the controversy between Abraham and his people about Divine attributes dragged on till late into the night, and seeing that the talk had served no useful purpose Abraham wanted to cut it short. So he cast a glance at the stars, suggesting thereby that the talk had dragged on long and far into the night and it should better stop. (close)

3327. Commentary:

The verse seems to suggest that the controversy between Abraham and his people about Divine attributes dragged on late into the night, and seeing that the talk served no useful purpose Abraham wanted to cut it short. So he cast a glance at the stars suggesting thereby that the talk had dragged on long and far into the night and it should better be stopped. (close)

2493. In view of the useless nature of the talk Abraham told his people that they had better leave him alone as he was not feeling well. Or, the words, Inni Saqim, may mean, 'I am sick of your worshipping false gods,' or, 'I am sorely distressed at heart because you worship false gods,' or, 'I hate your worship of false gods.' (close)

3328. Commentary:

The verse may also suggest that Abraham was feeling unwell and in view of the useless nature of the talk that his people were having with him he wanted to avoid it. He therefore told them that they had better leave him alone as he was not feeling well.

The words انی سقیم may also mean: "I am sick of your worshipping false gods," or "I am sorely distressed at heart because you worship false gods," or "I hate your worship of false gods." (close)

3329. Important Words:

راغ (went secretly) means, he turned aside or away or he went this way or that quickly and guilefully; he turned aside to deceive him who was behind him. راغ الی فلان means, he went to such a one secretly. راغ علیه means, he advanced towards him; he turned against him secretly (Aqrab & Lane). (close)

2494. The most distinctive attribute of a Living God is that He speaks to His chosen servants and listens to and answers their prayers. It is a dead and defunct deity that has not the power to speak or listen to and accept the prayers of his votaries. (close)

3330. Commentary:

At different places the Quran has pointed to one of the most distinctive attributes of a living God, viz. that He speaks to His chosen servants and listens to and answers their prayers. It is a dead and defunct deity, fit to be thrown away, that has not the power to speak or listen to and accept the prayers of his votaries. God has revealed Himself throughout the ages to His Elect through His actions and spoken word. Even now He has not ceased to reveal Himself and will never cease to do so. While rebuking the Israelites for taking the calf as their deity the Quran exposes the absurdity of their position in the words: "Did they not see that it spoke not to them nor guided them" (7:149). Again in 20:90 Moses is described as bringing home to the Israelites their folly for adopting the calf as their god in the words: Could they not see this simple fact that it returned to them no answer, and had not the power to do them either harm or good. In vv. 21:‌64 & 66 and in the verse under comment Abraham advances the same argument in repudiation of idol-worship, viz. that the false gods cannot speak. From all these verses it becomes clear that God ceases to be a living God and forfeits all right to our worship and adoration if He ceases to speak to us and does not listen to and accept our prayers. Those who think that God has now given up revealing Himself to His servants are guilty of a colossal mistake. Islam’s greatest superiority over all other religions lies in the fact that it has produced in every age men to whom God has spoken. In our own time He spoke to Ahmad, the Promised Messiah. (close)

a. 21:59. (close)

2495. The right hand being the symbol of power and strength, the verse signifies that Abraham struck the idols with full force and broke them into pieces. Yamin also meaning a vow, the verse may signify that Abraham broke the idols in fulfilment of his vow (21:58). (close)

a. 21:59. (close)

3331. Commentary:

The right hand being the symbol of power and strength, the verse signifies that Abraham struck the idols with his full power and broke them into pieces. The word یمین also meaning a vow, the verse may signify that Abraham struck the idols with great force in fulfilment of his vow referred to in "And by Allah I will certainly plan against your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs" (21:58). (close)

3332. Important Words:

یزفون (came hastening) is derived from زف. They say زف القوم فی مشیتھم i.e. the people hastened or were quick in going alone. زف الریحmeans, the wind blew violently. زف الطائر means, the bird spread its wings and threw itself (Aqrab). (close)

b. 21:67, 68. (close)

b. 21:67-68. (close)

2495A. Your hands and feet with which you work. (close)

3333. Commentary:

The verse may have one or all the three following interpretations: (1) God has created you and your handiwork, i.e. the idols of stone which you carve out with your own hands. (2) God is your Creator and the Creator of all that you do, i.e. He has created the means and the instruments by which you do your works. (3) God is your Creator but how foolish you are to worship what you make with your own hands. (close)

c. 21:69; 29:25. (close)

a. 21:69; 29:25. (close)