The sūrah has given us an account of Moses and Pharaoh and the latter’s ultimate end. It gives hope to the believers suffering persecution in the world, as were the small group of Muslims in Makkah at the time. The story also portrays the destruction of arrogant tyrants whose attitude was basically similar to that of the idolaters in Makkah.

The sūrah now moves on to tell us about Abraham and his people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is ordered to relate this story to the unbelievers. For they claimed to be the custodians of Abraham’s heritage in so far as they followed his old faith, even though they addressed their worship to multiple deities. Indeed, they went even further, placing idols in the Sacred Mosque built by Abraham as a focus for the followers of the pure faith based on God’s oneness. The Prophet is required to tell them Abraham’s story so that they know whether their claims are right or not.

In this Sūrah, historical accounts are not given in their chronological order, because it is only concerned with the lessons to be derived from these accounts. In Sūrah 7, The Heights, conversely, the historical line of how power was assumed by different peoples and the succession of God’s messengers since Adam were important points to stress. Hence, the accounts of earlier prophets there followed a strict chronological order, starting with man’s fall from heaven to begin human life on earth.

The episode in Abraham’s story given in this sūrah concentrates on the message he delivered to his people, the debate he had with them, his denunciation of their alleged deities, addressing all worship to God alone and his reminder of the Day of Judgement. This is followed by a complete scene from the Day of Judgement when idolaters will deny those very deities they used to worship, and regret their past actions that are certain to land them with a terrible end. It is all shown as if it is already happening now. The lesson the story delivers here is aimed primarily at the idolaters. Hence, the sūrah speaks at length on the basics of the monotheistic faith, the fallacy of polytheism, and the destiny of idolaters. All other aspects are only briefly hinted at, while they are nonetheless detailed in other sūrahs.

Other episodes in Abraham’s life were given in Sūrahs 2, 6, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21 and 22. In each, the episode chosen is the one most suited to the main theme of the sūrah.

In Sūrah 2, The Cow, for example, we read the episode of his building the Ka`bah, together with his son, Ishmael. He is shown praying to God to make Makkah, the Sacred City, secure. He is also shown declaring that the Muslims will be the true heirs of the Ka`bah and its builder, as they will be the ones who will follow his faith based on God’s oneness. This is not an inheritance based on blood and ancestry. This fact is given within the context of the Israelites’ disobedience and denials and their expulsion by God who gave Abraham’s heritage and the House he built to the Muslims.

In the same sūrah we have Abraham’s debate with the unbeliever king when Abraham stressed God’s power telling the king that God alone causes life and death, and that it is He who causes the sun to rise in the East. He challenged the king to make it rise in the West, thus ending all argument. Abraham is also shown in this sūrah praying to God to let him see how He brings the dead back to life. God ordered him to slay four birds and to place parts of each on different mountains. God then brought them back to life and they flew back to Abraham. All this is given in a context that concentrates on God’s power, the signs He has placed in the universe and His ability to bring the dead back to life.

“Relate to them the story of Abraham, when he said to his father and his people: What is that you worship?” (Verses 69-70) The Prophet is instructed here to relate to them the story of Abraham whom the idolater Arabs considered themselves to be his heirs and the followers of his faith. The Prophet thus recounts how Abraham denounced what his father and people worshipped, which were no more than idols similar to those the unbelievers in Makkah worshipped. He also denounced their erring ways, asking them in a clear tone of disapproval: What is that you worship?’ “They answered: We worship idols, and we remain devoted to them.” (Verse 71) They certainly considered their idols deities, but the fact that they called them idols shows that they could not deny the fact that they were no more than statues made of stone, but to which they nevertheless devoted their worship. This is the ultimate degree of absurdity. Yet when people take up wrong beliefs, they lose sight of the absurdity of their concepts, worship and statements.

Abraham (peace be upon him) begins to awaken their minds and hearts, highlighting the absurdity of their position: “Said he: Do they hear you when you call on them, or benefit you or do you harm?” (Verses 72-73) The least that should be true of a deity to whom worship is addressed is that it should have the same faculty of hearing as its worshipper. But these deities cannot hear their worshippers who appeal to them for benefit and the removal of harm and hardship. If they cannot hear, then how can they bring benefit or cause harm? Certainly the idolaters could not claim either quality for their idols. Hence, they did not answer Abraham because they realized that he was being sarcastic. Nevertheless, they could not refute what he said. Hence, when they do speak, they expose themselves as blind followers who do not reflect on their actions: “They said: But we found our forefathers doing the same.” (Verse 74) True, these idols cannot hear, bring benefit or cause harm, but we found our forefathers worshipping them and we follow in their footsteps.

This is a disgraceful reply, but those idolaters were not ashamed to make it, nor were the Arabs in Makkah ashamed of doing likewise. It was sufficient that their forefathers did something for them to then accept it as valid without question.

Indeed a stumbling block in the way of the Islamic message was that the idolaters were required to abandon their forefathers’ religion. This they did not want to do because it would detract from those ancestors’ standing and constitute an acknowledgement that they were in error. This would be too disrespectful of their forefathers. Such otiose values are thus allowed to stand in the way of the truth. In times of inflexible obduracy people stick to such values in preference to the truth.

Hence, they needed to be shaken violently in order to release their minds and faculties.

Patient and calm as he was, Abraham realized that the only way forward was to give them a real jolt, declaring his enmity to those idols and to the deviant beliefs that allowed such worship: “He said: Do you see those which you have been worshipping — you and your forefathers of old? They are my enemies, except for the Lord of all the worlds.” (Verses 75-77)

Abraham then outlines the attributes of his Lord, the Lord of all the worlds, and the bond that exists between them at all times and in all situations. As we listen to his description we feel the close, inspirational relationship that acknowledges God’s hand in everything that happens in life:

It is He who has created me, and is the One who guides me. He is the One who gives me to eat and to drink. When I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health, and will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life. It is He also who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement. (Verses 78-82)

Abraham’s description of his Lord and the bond between them imparts a feeling that every part of his constitution feels this bond. Hence, all his aspirations look to God with love and trust. It is as if Abraham actually sees his Lord and feels his grace with all his heart. As the Qur’ān quotes Abraham’s description, it gives it a melodious tone, one that imparts a very relaxed atmosphere, spreading its soothing, tranquil air.

“It is He who has created me, and is the One who guides me.” (Verse 78) He has originated me from where He knows but I know not. This means that He knows everything about me: my constitution, nature, functions, feelings, and ultimate destiny. He is the One to guide me and provide me with the line I should follow in life. It is as if Abraham feels himself like an elastic material which God shapes the way He likes, giving it whatever form He chooses. He submits himself to God with full trust, perfectly assured that he is on the right course.

“He is the One who gives me to eat and to drink. When I fall ill, He is the One who restores me to health.” (Verses 79-80) These are aspects of the direct, compassionate and loving care Abraham feels his Lord takes of him in all situations of health and sickness. Abraham demonstrates the utmost standard of politeness with his Lord by not attributing any illness to Him, although he knows well that both sickness and health occur by God’s will. He only attributes to Him the blessings he enjoys and the care he receives: his food and drink as well as his health.

Again it is God who “will cause me to die and then will bring me back to life.” (Verse 81) This signifies complete faith that it is God who deals death, and that He is certain to bring the dead back to life.

“It is He also who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Judgement.” (Verse 82)

Abraham, a prophet and a messenger of God, who knows his Lord and feels his presence and care in such a way, acknowledging such a close relationship with Him, expresses his dearest hope that on the Day of Judgement, God will forgive him his faults. He does not entertain any thought that he is without fault. Indeed he acknowledges that he has these, but hopes to receive more of God’s grace. He does not feel that his deeds, good as they may be, deserve any credit, but hopes for God’s mercy and forgiveness. This is the best to hope for.

This statement combines feelings of God-consciousness, politeness and self- effacement. This is the right combination to truly appreciate the grace God bestows on us, which is great indeed, and the value of our actions, which is definitely petty.

Now Abraham addresses a long, comprehensive and humble prayer to his Lord:

My Lord! Grant me sound judgement, and join me with the righteous; and grant me the advocacy of the truth in later generations; place me among those who will inherit the garden of bliss! Forgive my father; for he is among the ones who have gone astray.

Let me not suffer disgrace on the Day when all shall be raised from the dead; the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit; but only the one who comes to God with a sound heart [will be happy]. (Verses 83-89)

Nothing in Abraham’s prayer concerns any aspect of the comforts and pleasures of this world, not even physical health. It looks to higher aspects, motivated by pure feelings. It is a prayer made by a heart which has true knowledge of God and, as a result, attributes little value to everything else. He has known God’s grace and prays for more of it, and he entertains hopes and fears in accordance with his experience.

“My Lord! Grant me sound judgement.” (Verse 83) Grant me the wisdom by which I recognize the truth and distinguish true from false values so that I will continue to follow the right course. “And join me with the righteous.” (Verse 83) This is said by Abraham, the noble prophet whose devotion is exemplary. What self-effacing humility! What concern about falling short of what is expected, and what fear of a change of heart! How keen he is to just be among the righteous! He feels that he can only achieve this if God guides him to do the righteous deeds that will bring him into such ranks.

“And grant me the advocacy of the truth in later generations.” (Verse 84) This is a supplication that hopes for extension in later generations, not through offspring, but through faith. What Abraham prays for is that he should have in later generations a true advocate who calls on people to follow the path of truth, bringing people back to the pure faith which he himself advocated. This may be the same prayer quoted elsewhere in the Qur’ān as it speaks of his building of the Ka`bah with his son Ishmael. They both prayed: “‘Our Lord, accept this from us; You are the One that hears all and knows all. Our Lord, make us surrender ourselves to You, and make out of our offspring a community that will surrender itself to You. Show us our ways of worship and accept our repentance; You are the One who accepts repentance, the Merciful. Our Lord, send them a Messenger from among themselves who shall declare to them Your revelations, and instruct them in the Book and in wisdom, and purify them. You are Mighty and Wise.” (2: 127-129)

God answered his prayer and gave him that advocate of the truth, sending those people a Messenger to teach them the true faith and to purify them. Such an answer to Abraham’s prayer came several thousand years later, which is a very long time in people’s reckoning, but a time that is nonetheless appropriate in God’s judgement.

We then have in the present passage a scene of the Day of Judgement, which was feared by Abraham. It is so vivid that he almost sees it with his own eyes as he addresses his humble prayer to God:

Paradise will be brought within sight of the God-fearing; whereas the blazing fire will be placed in full view of the ones lost in error. It shall be said to them: ‘Where is now all that you used to worship instead of God? Can they help you or even help themselves?’ They will be hurled into hell, as also those who are lost in error, and Iblīs’ hosts, all together. And there, quarrelling with one another, they will say: By God, we were obviously in error, when we deemed you equal to the Lord of all the worlds. It was only the truly guilty ones who led us astray. And now we have none to intercede for us nor any loving friend. Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be believers.’ (Verses 90-102)

The scene starts with an image of heaven being brought near, so as to be within sight of the God-fearing; those who actually remained apprehensive lest they might be made to suffer God’s punishment. The fire of hell is also brought into full view of those who erred; those who strayed away from the right path and denied the Day of Judgement. As they stand within sight of hell, listening to stern rebukes for their bad deeds before they are thrown into hell, they will be first asked about the deities they used to worship. The question that will be put to them is: “Where is now all that you used to worship instead of God?” (Verses 9293) Where are they? “Can they help you or even help themselves?” (Verse 93) No answer is heard from them. Indeed none is expected. It is only a question given by way of rebuke. Hence: “They will be hurled into hell, as also those who are lost in error, and Iblīs’ hosts, all together.” (Verses 9495) The very word used here, kubkibū, translated as ‘hurled into’, suggests that they fall into it, one on top of another, with much noise as a result. It is the same as when a landslide occurs, immediately followed by further ones. These people who were lost in error are accompanied in hell with “Iblīs’ hosts, all together.” Indeed they are all part of Iblīs’s hosts.

We are then made to listen to them as they speak in hell, saying to the false deities and the idols they worshipped: “By God, we were obviously in error, when we deemed you equal to the Lord of all the worlds,” (Verses 97-98), worshipping you, alongside or instead of God, as if you were equal to Him. They say it now when it is too late. They put the blame on those who led them into error and prevented them from listening to divine guidance. They now wake up to the realization that it is all too late and that apportioning blame will benefit them nothing: “And now we have none to intercede for us nor any loving friend.” (Verses 100-101) Neither deity nor friend will be of any avail to us now. But then they think that if there were a possibility of returning to life, they could still mend their erring ways: “Would that we had a second chance [in life], so that we could be believers.” (Verse 102) This is nothing more than wishful thinking. There can be no return. They are already present on Judgement Day.