Join over 4 million Quran learners from more than 180 countries
Ayah
Word by Word
قَالَ
He said
بَلۡ
Nay
فَعَلَهُۥ
(some doer) did it
كَبِيرُهُمۡ
Their chief
هَٰذَا
(is) this
فَسۡـَٔلُوهُمۡ
So ask them
إِن
if
كَانُواْ
they (can)
يَنطِقُونَ
speak
قَالَ
He said
بَلۡ
Nay
فَعَلَهُۥ
(some doer) did it
كَبِيرُهُمۡ
Their chief
هَٰذَا
(is) this
فَسۡـَٔلُوهُمۡ
So ask them
إِن
if
كَانُواْ
they (can)
يَنطِقُونَ
speak
Translation
He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak."
Tafsir
He said, concealing his deed: 'Rather it was this principal one among them did it. So question them, about the perpetrator of this, if they can speak!' (here the response to the conditional statement precedes [the conditional clause]; in the preceding clause there is an intimation for them that an idol, acknowledged as being incapable of action, cannot be a god).
The Story of Ibrahim and his People
Allah tells:
وَلَقَدْ اتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِه عَالِمِينَ
And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim his guidance,
Allah tells us about His close Friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and how He bestowed upon him guidance aforetime, i.e., from an early age He inspired him with truth and evidence against his people, as Allah says elsewhere:
وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَأ ءَاتَيْنَـهَأ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ
And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people. (6:83)
The point here is that Allah is telling us that He gave guidance to Ibrahim aforetime, i.e., He had already guided him at an early age.
وَكُنَّا بِه عَالِمِينَ
and We were Well-Acquainted with him.
means, and he was worthy of that.
Then Allah says:
إِذْ قَالَ لاَِبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ
When he said to his father and his people:What are these images, to which you are devoted!
This is the guidance which he had been given during his youth:his denunciation of his people's worship of idols instead of Allah.
Ibrahim said:
..
مَا هَذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ
What are these images, to which you are devoted!
meaning, which you worship with such devotion.
قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا ابَاءنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ
They said:We found our fathers worshipping them.
means, they had no other evidence apart from the misguided actions of their forefathers.
قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنتُمْ أَنتُمْ وَابَاوُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
He (Ibrahim) said:Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error.
meaning, Speaking to your fathers whose actions you cite as evidence would be the same as speaking to you. Both you and they are misguided and are not following any straight path.' When he called their intelligence into question, and said that their fathers were misguided and belittled their gods,
قَالُوا أَجِيْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنتَ مِنَ اللَّعِبِينَ
They said:Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who play about?
They said:`These words that you are saying, are you speaking in jest or are you telling the truth! For we have never heard such a thing before.'
قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاْاَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ
He said:Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them...
meaning, your Lord, beside Whom there is no other god, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth and all that they contain; He is the One Who initiated their creation; He is the Creator of all things.
وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
and to that I am one of the witnesses.
means, and I bear witness that there is no God other than Him and no Lord except Him
How Ibrahim broke the Idols
Then Ibrahim swore an oath, which some of his people heard, to plot against their idols, i.e., to break them and destroy them after they had gone away and turned their backs, when they went out to their festival. They had a festival which they would go out to celebrate.
Abu Ishaq reported from Abu Al-Ahwas from Abdullah (Ibn Mas`ud),
When the people of Ibrahim went out to celebrate their festival, they passed by him and said, `O Ibrahim, are you not coming out with us?'
He said, `I am sick.'
It was only the day before that he had said,
وَتَاللَّهِ لَاَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُم بَعْدَ أَن تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ
And by Allah, I shall plot a plan for your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs.
and some of the people had heard him.
فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا إِلاَّ كَبِيرًا لَّهُمْ
So he broke them to pieces, except the biggest of them,
means, he smashed them all, except for the biggest idol.
This is like the Ayah,
فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْباً بِالْيَمِينِ
Then he turned upon them, striking (them) with (his) right hand. (37:93)
لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ
that they might turn to it.
It was said that he put a hammer in the hands of the biggest idol so that the people would think that it had become jealous on its own account and objected to these smaller idols being worshipped alongside it, so it had broken them.
قَالُوا مَن فَعَلَ هَذَا بِألِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
They said:Who has done this to our gods He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers.
When they came back and ﷺ what Ibrahim had done to their idols, humiliating them and lowering their status, proving that they were not divine and that those who worshipped them were fools,
قَالُوا مَن فَعَلَ هَذَا بِألِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
(They said:Who has done this to our gods He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers), because of this action of his.
قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ
They said:We heard a young man talking against them, who is called Ibrahim.
Those who had heard him swearing to plot against them said, we heard a young man talking about them, and they said that he was called Ibrahim.
قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَى أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ
They said:Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify.
meaning, in front of a large audience so that all the people could be present. This was Ibrahim's ultimate purpose, so that he could tell this great gathering about the extent of their ignorance and how foolish they were to worship idols which could not defend themselves from harm or help themselves, so how could they ask them for help!
قَالُوا أَأَنتَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِألِهَتِنَا يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا
They said:Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Ibrahim!
He said:Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it...
referring to the one he had left alone and had not broken.
فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ
Ask them, if they can speak!
He was hoping that they would admit of their own volition that these idols could not speak and that this idol would not say anything because it was inanimate.
In the Two Sahihs it was recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَمُ لَمْ يَكْذِبْ غَيْرَ ثَلَثٍ ثِنْتَيْنِ فِي ذَاتِ اللهِ قَوْلُهُ
Ibrahim, upon him be peace, did not tell lies except on three occasions, two for the sake of Allah -- when he said:
بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا
Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it.
and when he said:
إِنِّى سَقِيمٌ
Verily, I am sick. (37:89)
قَالَ وَبَيْنَا هُوَ يَسِيرُ فِي أَرْضِ جَبَّارٍ مِنَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ وَمَعَهُ سَارَّةُ إِذْ نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاًا فَأَتَى الْجَبَّارَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ نَزَل هَهُنَا رَجُلٌ بِأَرْضِكَ مَعَهُ امْرَأَةٌ أَحْسَنُ النَّاسِ
فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ مَا هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةُ مِنْكَ
قَالَ هِيَ أُخْتِي
قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأَرْسِلْ بِهَا إِلَيَّ
فَانْطَلَقَ إِلَى سَارَّةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْجَبَّارَ قَدْ سَأَلَنِي عَنْكِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ أَنَّكِ أُخْتِي فَلَا تُكَذِّبِينِي عِنْدَهُ فَإِنَّكِ أُخْتِي فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي الاْاَرْضِ مُسْلِمٌ غَيْرِي وَغَيْرُكِ
فَانْطَلَقَ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي
فَلَمَّا أَنْ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَرَاهَا أَهْوَى إِلَيْهَا فَتَنَاوَلَهَا فَأُخِذَ أَخْذًا شَدِيدًا فَقَالَ ادْعِي اللهَ لِي وَلَا أَضُرُّكِ فَدَعَتْ لَهُ
فَأُرْسِلَ فَأَهْوَى إِلَيْهَا فَتَنَاوَلَهَا فَأُخِذَ بِمِثْلِهَا أَوْ أَشَدَّ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ الثَّالِثَةَ فَأُخِذَ فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَ الْمَرَّتَيْنِ الاْأُولَيَيْنِ
فَقَالَ ادْعِي اللهَ فَلَ أُضُرَّكِ فَدَعَتْ لَهُ فَأُرْسِلَ ثُمَّ دَعَا أَدْنَى حُجَّابِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ لَمْ تَأْتِنِي بِإِنْسَانٍ وَلَكِنَّكَ أَتَيْتَنِي بِشَيْطَانٍ أَخْرِجْهَا وَأَعْطِهَا هَاجَرَ فَأُخْرِجَتْ وَأُعْطِيَتْ هَاجَرَ فَأَقْبَلَتْ
فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بِمَجِييِهَا انْفَتَلَ مِنْ صَلَتِهِ وَقَالَ مَهْيَمْ
قَالَتْ كَفَى اللهُ كَيْدَ الْكَافِرِ الْفَاجِرِ وَأَخْدَمَنِي هَاجَر
and when he was traveling in the land of one of the tyrants, and Sarah was with him; when he made camp, a man came to the tyrant and said, A man has made camp in your land and with him is a woman who is the most beautiful of people.
The tyrant sent for Ibrahim, and asked him, What is the relationship of this woman to you?
He said, She is my sister.
The tyrant said, Go and send her to me.
So Ibrahim went to Sarah and said, This tyrant asked me about you, and I told him that you are my sister, so do not let him think that I am lying. For you are indeed my sister according to the Book of Allah, and there are no Muslims on the earth apart from you and I.
So Ibrahim brought her to him, then he stood and prayed.
When she entered upon the tyrant, he reached for her desirously once he ﷺ her. But he suffered a severe seizure. So he said, Pray to Allah for me and I will not harm you. So she prayed for him and it released him.
Then he reached for her desirously, but he was stricken similarly before or worse. This continued three times, and each time he said the same as he had said the first time.
Then he called the closest of his guards and said, You have not brought me a human being, you have brought me a devil! Take her out and give her Hajar. So she was taken out and given Hajar, and she went back.
When Ibrahim realized that she had come back, he finished his prayer and turned around. He said, What happened?
She said, Allah took care of the evil disbeliever's plot, and he gave me Hajar as a servant.
Muhammad bin Sirin said,
When Abu Hurayrah narrated this Hadith, he said, `This is your mother, O sons of the water of the heaven.'
The People's admission of their gods' incapability, and Ibrahim's preaching
Allah tells us that when Ibrahim said what he said, his people,
فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ
turned to themselves,
meaning, they blamed themselves for not taking precautions and protecting their gods.
فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
They said:Verily, you are the wrongdoers.
i.e., because you neglected them and did not guard them.
ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَى رُوُوسِهِمْ
Then they turned to themselves,
means, they looked at the ground, and said:
لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَوُلَاء يَنطِقُونَ
Indeed you (Ibrahim) know well that these speak not!
Qatadah said:
The people admitted their guilt and confusion, and said,
لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَوُلَاء يَنطِقُونَ
(Indeed you know well that these speak not!) `So how can you tell us to ask them, if they cannot speak and you know that they cannot speak.'
At this point, when they admitted that, Ibrahim said to them:
قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَاا يَنفَعُكُمْ شَيْيًا وَلَاا يَضُرُّكُمْ
Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you!
meaning, if they cannot speak and they can neither benefit you nor harm you, then why do you worship them instead of Allah
أُفٍّ لَّكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَ تَعْقِلُونَ
Fie upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then no sense!
`Do you not realize the extent of the misguidance and extreme disbelief which you are following, which no one could accept but one who is an ignorant and evil wrongdoer.' He defeated them in argument and left them with no way out.
Allah said:
وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَأ ءَاتَيْنَـهَأ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ
And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people. (6:83
How Ibrahim was thrown into the Fire and how Allah controlled it
When their arguments were refuted and their incapability became clear, when truth was made manifest and falsehood was defeated, they resorted to using their power and strength, and;
قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانصُرُوا الِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ
They said:Burn him and help your gods, if you will be doing.
So they gathered together a huge amount of wood.
As-Suddi said,
I if a woman was sick, she would make a vow that if she recovered she would bring wood to burn Ibrahim. Then they made a hole in the ground and set it aflame, and it burned with huge sparks and immense flames. There had never been a fire like it. They put Ibrahim, peace be upon him, into a catapult, at the suggestion of a nomadic Kurdish man from Persia.
Shu`ayb Al-Jaba'i said,
His name was Hayzan, and Allah caused the earth to swallow him up, and he will remain sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection.
When they threw him he said, `Sufficient for me is Allah, and He is the best disposer of affairs.'
This is similar to what Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn Abbas that Ibrahim said,
`Sufficient for me is Allah, and He is the best disposer of affairs,
when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad said it when they said:
إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Verily, the people have gathered against you, therefore, fear them. But it increased them in faith, and they said:Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs. (3:173)
Sa`id bin Jubayr reported that Ibn Abbas said:
When Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, the keeper (angel) of the rain said:`When will I be commanded to send rain.' But the command of Allah was more swift.
قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَمًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Allah said:O fire! Be you cool and safety for Ibrahim!
and there was no fire left on earth that was not extinguished.
Ibn Abbas and Abu Al-Aliyah said:
Were it not for the fact that Allah said,
وَسَلَمًا
(and safety), Ibrahim would have been harmed by its coldness.
Qatadah said:
On that day there was no creature that did not try to extinguish the fire for Ibrahim, except for the gecko.
Az-Zuhri said:
The Prophet commanded that it should be killed, and called it a harmful vermin.
وَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الاْأَخْسَرِينَ
And they wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers.
they were defeated and humiliated, because they wanted to plot against the Prophet of Allah, but Allah planned against them and saved him from the fire, and thus they were defeated
The Migration of Ibrahim to Ash-Sham (Greater Syria), accompanied by Lut
Allah tells:
وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى الاَْرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَالَمِينَ
And We rescued him and Lut to the land which We have blessed for the nations.
Allah tells us that He saved Ibrahim from the fire lit by his people, and brought him out from among them, migrating to the land of Ash-Sham, to the sacred regions thereof.
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً
And We bestowed upon him Ishaq, and Ya`qub Nafilatan.
Ata' and Mujahid said,
Nafilatan means as a gift.
Ibn Abbas, Qatadah and Al-Hakam bin `]Uyaynah said,
The gift of a son who has a son,
meaning that Yaqub was the son of Ishaq, as Allah says:
فَبَشَّرْنَـهَا بِإِسْحَـقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَـقَ يَعْقُوبَ
But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq, of Yaqub. (11:71)
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said,
He asked for one (son), and said,
رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِنَ الصَّـلِحِينِ
My Lord! Grant me from the righteous. (37:100)
So Allah gave him Ishaq, and gave him Yaqub in addition.
وَكُلًّ جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ
Each one We made righteous.
means, both of them were good and righteous people.
وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَيِمَّةً
And We made them leaders,
means, examples to be followed.
يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا
guiding by Our command,
inviting to Him by His leave.
Allah says:
وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَأةِ وَإِيتَاء الزَّكَاةِ
and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing Salah, and the giving of Zakah,
Here the general is followed by the specific.
وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ
and of Us (Alone) they were the worshippers.
means, they did what they enjoined others to do.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
The words of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) were not untrue, but only allusions
قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَـٰذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ (He said, "Rather, this is done by this chief of theirs. So, ask them if they were to speak." - 21:63) When the community of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) got hold of him and asked him to confess his guilt, he said "The big one among them has done it. Why don't you ask him, if he can speak"?
The point to consider here is that the idols were broken by Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and its denial and attributing the deed to the big idol, was contrary to fact and constituted an untruth. The exalted position of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) renders such a conclusion untenable. The exegesists have put forward several explanations to sort out this matter. One of them is that his statement is in the nature of an assumption i.e. why not considering the possibility that the deed was done by the big idol? And a supposition which is contrary to facts is not a lie as the Qur’ an itself says إِن كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَلَدٌ فَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْعَابِدِينَ (If the Ralhman [ All-Merciful ] has a son then I am the first to serve him - 43:81). But the most convincing and straight forward explanation is the one adopted by al-Bahr ul-Muhit, Qurtubi and Ruh ul-Ma` ani, which says that it is a metaphoric attribution (اَسنَاد مجَازی), that is the act which was done by Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was attributed to the big idol by way of metaphoric attribution because it was this idol which, by reason of the reverence that it commanded in the whole community, persuaded Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) to do what he did with the smaller idols. It is like amputating a thief’ s hand and then telling him that none but his own misdeeds are responsible for the amputation.
Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) had also attributed the breaking of the idols to the big idol by placing an axe on its shoulder or in its hands, thus pointing an accusing finger towards it. He reinforced this suspicion by his word when he suggested to the unbelievers that they should enquire from the big idol as to who had destroyed the other idols. It is a case of metaphoric attribution (اسناد مجازی) which is very well illustrated in an Arabic saying انبت الربیہع البقلۃ ، that is the spring rains have raised crops. Although in actual fact it is God who produces and nourishes the crops, yet it has been ascribed to a visible cause, and no one can call it a lie. In the same manner Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was not telling an untruth when he attributed the act to the big idol. His adoption of this act of dissimulation in fact served many religious interests; one of them being to make the people aware of the possibility that perhaps the big idol was infuriated with the smaller idols because they too were worshipped with the same degree of reverence as itself. If they could be made to think on these lines, it could have opened the route to belief in the Oneness of Allah. If the big idol was not willing to accept the idols as objects of worship how could Allah, the Creator of all living things, agree to share His authority with anyone?
Secondly, perhaps they also wondered that if the idols whom they worshipped were really as powerful as they thought them to be, how could anyone have broken them with impunity? Thirdly, if the charge of breaking the smaller idols could be laid against the big idol, then it would be quite pertinent to ask that in that event it should also have the power of speech. That is why Sayyidna Ibrahim I said فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا يَنطِقُونَ (So, ask them if they were to speak. - 21:63). Thus it is really not necessary to put farfetched meanings into his words which should be interpreted in a plain, straight forward manner. He attributed the deed to the big idol by way of metaphoric attribution. This was not contrary to facts nor did it constitute an untruth.
Three untruths ascribed to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام)
Now the point to consider is that the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself has said according to some authentic traditions that انّ ابراھیم (علیہ السلام) لم یکذب غیر ثلاث (Bukhari and Muslim). That is Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) never spoke an untruth except on three occasions, and then those three occasions have been described in the same hadith in some detail. The saying goes on to narrate that two out of the three untruths were spoken solely in the way of Allah. One of them is this verse بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ (Rather this is done by this chief - 21:63). The second one relates to Eid day when he said to his familyإِنِّي سَقِيمٌ (I am sick - 37:89), and the third one was spoken to save his wife, from harm. This happened when he was travelling with his wife Sayyidah Sarah ؓ ، and passed through a settlement whose ruler was cruel and depraved and who used to seize the wives of other people and subject them to sexual abuse. However, he spared those who were accompanied by their fathers or brothers. When Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) reached this city, the ruler was informed about the arrival of the couple. So he got Sayyidah Sarah ؓ arrested and brought before him. When the ruler's men came to arrest her, they enquired from Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) about his relationship with her. Fearing the evil intentions of the wicked ruler Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) said that she was his sister. (It is this episode which is referred to in the hadith as the third lie) Despite this declaration they took her away with them. Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) had already briefed her that she should also tell the ruler that she was his sister, because according to Islamic relationship they were brother and sister as they were the only two Muslims in that land and hence according to Muslim brotherhood that relationship was valid. Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) lacked the strength to defend himself and his wife against the ruler and his men, so he started praying to invoke Allah's Mercy. When Sayyidah Sarah ؓ was brought before the ruler, he started making advances to her, and in punishment he was turned into a cripple. Then he begged her to pray for him to return to normal in which case he would let her go without harm. When Sayyidah Sarah ؓ prayed for him and he returned to normal, he broke his promise and again tried to molest her and again became a cripple. This was repeated thrice and ultimately he gave up and sent back Sayyidah Sarah ؓ to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . This is a summary of the hadith. However, three lies have been ascribed to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) clearly in this hadith which is against the position and dignity of the prophethood. But the hadith contains in itself a refutation of this charge i.e. none of the three episodes reveal that a deliberate lie was told. They were mere dissimulations (تَورِیَہ) which are permissible and legitimate if spoken in defense of oneself from cruelty and do not fall within the definition of a lie. The reasoning for this is given in the hadith itself i.e. Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) had told Sayyidah Sarah ؓ that he had informed the ruler's men that she was his sister and that she should also say the same, because they were indeed brother and sister in the wider sense of universal Muslim brotherhood. This is called tauriyah (dissembling) where the words used may be interpreted differently, so that the listener understands them one way whereas the speaker means something else. Tauriyah is permissible by consensus of Islamic jurists if used to save oneself from injustice. This is totally different from Shiite's Taqqiyah (تَقِّیَہ), which is an outright lie. In Taqqaiya one does not only speak a lie but also acts on it, while in the case of tauriyah it is not a lie in the real sense as the speaker uses words which are capable of conveying his intentions as in the case of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) calling Sayyidah Sarah ؓ as his sister which was true in the sense that both were Muslims and Islam constitutes a universal brotherhood. Same argument can be put forward in the case of his other two utterances. It has been explained above that he said بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ as a tauriyah to refer the act toward the big idol by way of metaphor (اسناد مجازی). As for his saying, إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ, in common parlance the word Saqeem (سقیم) means sick but it also means depressed, dejected, despondent and weak. Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) said in the latter sense which was absolutely true keeping in considering his feelings against the unbelievers, but the people took it in the popular sense i.e. sickness. Then the wording of the hadith that two out of the three lies were to promote belief in the One and true Allah suggests that they were not sins, because no one can hope to please Allah by committing an act of sin.
It is sheer ignorance to deny the authenticity of the lies of Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام)
Some Muslims who are influenced by the writings of western orientalists and Mirza Qadyani have declared this saying as unauthentic despite the fact that its narrators are reliable persons, because it accuses Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) of lying which is against the spirit of Qur'an, and that it is better to declare all the narrators of the saying as unreliable rather than to label Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) as a liar. From this they also made a rule that any saying, no matter how authentic its source might be, should be rejected if it is in conflict with the teachings of Qur'an. This ruling is absolutely valid and acceptable to entire Ummah, but the point is that the religious scholars have spent all their lives in researching each and every hadith, and none of those which they have accepted as authentic conflicts with the teachings of the Qur'an. Such people lacking knowledge and being misguided do not hesitate to reject a hadith and then justify the rejection by arguing that it is in conflict with the Qur'an. In the present case the saying itself makes it clear that the words which may be interpreted as lies is only tauriyah. As for the question why the words of tauriyah are called lies in the saying, the answer is that the slightest slip of those who are close to God is taken seriously, as can be seen in the previous Surah Taha when Sayyidna 'Adam's (علیہ السلام) slip and mistake is referred by the word عصٰی (disobeyed - 21:121) and غَوٰی (got misled - 20:121). It can be seen that whereas small mistakes can be forgiven and set aside in the case of common people, the same slips are considered as serious offences when committed by those who are dear to Allah Ta` ala. The Holy Qur'an recounts at many places Allah's displeasure over prophets in such situations. The hadith of Shafa` ah (intercession before Allah Ta` ala) which is famous and well known says that on the Day of Resurrection all people will gather together, and request prophets from Sayyidna 'Adam (علیہ السلام) upto the last prophet who came before the coming of the Holy Prophet ﷺ one by one for Shaf 'ah (intercession) that they be judged quickly. Every prophet will excuse himself from Shafa` ah (intercession) recounting one or more of his slips or mistakes. At last the entire humanity will approach the last of the prophets Sayyidna Muhammad ﷺ and he will perform ashshafa'ah al-kubra. According to this saying Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) will excuse himself quoting these utterances which though said as tauriyah and were, therefore, not lies in actual fact, were, none the less, below the dignity of a prophet. This lapse has been described as a lie in the hadith. This was well within the prerogative of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and to the extent of narration of this saying we too may repeat it. But it is not permitted to anyone, except, when quoting the Qur'an or this hadith, to say that Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) had told a lie. The same view has been taken by Qurtubi and al-Bahr ul-Muhit in the commentary of Surah Ta-Ha in connection with Sayyidna Adam (علیہ السلام) .
Reference to a delicate hint regarding sincerity of action arising from the saying
Out of the three lies which have been attributed to Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) in the saying two are said to be in the way of Allah Ta ala, but the third lie which was about Sayyidah Sarah ؓ was not said to be in the way of Allah Ta` ala, although saving the chastity of one's wife is very much- a part of religious duty. On this point, in the commentary by Qurtubi, a very delicate suggestion by Qazi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-` Arabi has been reproduced which is apt to shatter the peace of mind of the pious and God fearing persons: in saving the chastity of one's wife, though an act of religious duty, there was also an element of personal interest in protecting his wife's honour. Because of the mixed motives this third incident has been excluded from the category of acts which are performed for Allah Ta` ala, because Allah Ta` ala has said أَلَا لِلَّـهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ (Look, to Allah alone belongs the pure faith - 39:3). Had some common man like us been involved in such an incident, then the act would have surely qualified as an act which are performed to win the goodwill of God. But in view of the exalted position of the prophets, the smallest degree of personal motive was regarded against the perfect quality of their devotion.
How the fire of Namrud turned into pleasant garden for Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام)
Those who do not believe in miracles and supernatural events have given strange meaning to this episode. The philosophical assumption: that attributes which are attached with and complementary to something are not separable - is by itself fallacious. The fact is that nothing in this world is essential to or inseparable from something else. God gave to fire an attribute that it should burn and to water that it should cool, but these attributes are customary and habitual but not rationally necessary. No philosopher has so for been able to advance a convincing argument about these attributes being rational.
Thus these attributes being only habitual, they can be changed whenever God so wills. If God so wills, fire can act as a coolant and water as a burning agent, and it cannot be held as rationally impossible. This is what happens when Allah Ta’ ala reveals His miracles in support of the missions of His prophets. Thus He commanded the fire of Namrud to cool down and the fire obeyed, and if the word بَرداً (cool) was not followed by the word سلَامَاً (safe) the fire would have cooled like ice and would have caused him harm. The Qur’ an says about the people of Nuh (علیہ السلام) when they were drowned in water that أُغْرِقُوا فَأُدْخِلُوا نَارًا (they were drowned, and admitted into a Fire - 71:25).
حَرِّقُوهُ (Burn him - 21:68) that is the entire community and Namrud decided to burn him in fire. The historic version is that for full one month the entire population of the city were busy collecting fire wood for this purpose. Then after lighting the fire wood they fanned it to make it burn ferociously for the next seven days, until the flames rose high up into the sky. When the fire blazed with full ferocity they decided to throw Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) into it. But the fire was burning with such intensity that no one dared to approach it. Then the Shaitan gave them the idea to use a catapult to throw him into the fire. While people were preparing to throw Allah's Friend (خلِیل) into the sea of fire all the angels and all the creatures of the earth and sky cried out in unison at the fate that lay in store for Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . At that Allah Ta` ala permitted them all to help Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) . When the angels asked Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) whether he needed their help. He replied that Allah was enough to help him and that He was watching over him. Jibra'il al-Ameen (علیہ السلام) enquired whether he could render him any help to which Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) replied, "of course I need help, but from Allah, not from you". (Mazhari)
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Tafsir Surat Al-Anbiya': 57-63
Demi Allah, sesungguhnya aku akan melakukan tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhala kalian sesudah kalian pergi meninggalkannya. Maka Ibrahim membuat berhala-berhala itu hancur terpotong-potong, kecuali yang terbesar (induk) dari patung-patung yang lain; agar mereka kembali (untuk bertanya) kepadanya. Mereka berkata, "Siapakah yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami? Sungguh dia orang yang zalim.” Mereka berkata, "Kami dengar ada seorang pemuda yang mencela berhala-berhala ini yang bernama Ibrahim.” Mereka berkata, "(Kalau demikian) bawalah dia dengan cara yang dapat dilihat orang banyak agar mereka menyaksikan.” Mereka bertanya, "Apakah kamu, yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami, hai Ibrahim?” Ibrahim menjawab, "Sebenarnya patung yang besar itulah yang melakukannya, maka tanyakanlah kepada berhala itu, jika mereka dapat berbicara.”
Ayat 57
Kemudian Ibrahim a.s. bersumpah yang sumpahnya dapat didengar oleh sebagian kaumnya bahwa sesungguhnya dia akan membuat tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhala mereka, yakni dia benar-benar akan menyakiti hati mereka dengan memecahkan berhala-berhala mereka sesudah mereka pergi menuju ke tempat perayaan mereka.
Menurut kisah, mereka (kaum Nabi Ibrahim) mempunyai hari pasar tertentu yang mereka rayakan di suatu tempat. As-Saddi mengatakan bahwa ketika hari raya itu sudah dekat masanya, ayah Ibrahim berkata, "Hai anakku, seandainya kamu keluar bersama kami menuju ke tempat perayaan kami, niscaya kamu akan kagum kepada agama kami." Maka Ibrahim keluar (berangkat) bersama mereka. Ketika di tengah jalan, Ibrahim menjatuhkan dirinya ke tanah dan berkata, "Sesungguhnya aku sakit." Ketika kaumnya melaluinya, sedangkan dia dalam keadaan tergeletak, mereka bertanya, "Mengapa kamu?" Ibrahim menjawab, "Sesungguhnya saya sakit." Setelah sebagian besar dari kaumnya telah berlalu dan yang tertinggal hanyalah orang-orang yang lemah dari kalangan mereka, Ibrahim berkata, seperti yang disitir oleh firman-Nya: “Demi Allah, sesungguhnya aku akan melakukan tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhala kalian.” (Al-Anbiya: 57). Maka ucapannya itu didengar oleh mereka.
Ibnu Ishaq telah meriwayatkan dari Abul Ahwas dari Abdullah yang mengatakan, bahwa ketika kaum Nabi Ibrahim ke luar menuju ke tempat perayaan mereka, mereka melalui Ibrahim, lalu berkata kepadanya, "Hai Ibrahim, tidakkah engkau keluar bersama kami?" Ibrahim menjawab, "Sesungguhnya aku sedang sakit. Demi Allah, sesungguhnya aku akan melakukan tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhala kalian sesudah kalian pergi meninggalkannya.” (Al-Anbiya: 57). Maka ucapannya itu didengar oleh sebagian orang dari kalangan kaumnya.
Ayat 58
Firman Allah ﷻ: “Maka Ibrahim membuat berhala-berhala itu hancur terpotong-potong.” (Al-Anbiya: 58)
Yakni hancur berkeping-keping dipecahkan oleh Nabi Ibrahim, kecuali berhala yang paling besar. Di dalam ayat lain disebutkan oleh firman-Nya: “Lalu dihadapinya berhala-berhala itu sambil memukulinya dengan tangan kanannya (dengan kuat).” (Ash-Shaffat: 93)
Adapun firman Allah ﷻ: “Agar mereka kembali (untuk bertanya) kepadanya.” (Al-Anbiya: 58)
Menurut suatu kisah, Ibrahim a.s. meletakkan kapak di tangan berhala yang terbesar, untuk memberikan gambaran kepada mereka bahwa berhala yang terbesarlah yang memecahkan berhala-berhala lainnya. Karena mereka tidak mau menyembahnya, maka ia memecahkan semua berhala kecil yang membangkang kepadanya.
Ayat 59
"Mereka berkata, ‘Siapakah yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami? Sungguh dia orang yang zalim’.” (Al-Anbiya: 59). Yakni setelah mereka kembali dari perayaannya dan menyaksikan apa yang telah dilakukan oleh Ibrahim terhadap berhala-berhala mereka, sebagai suatu penghinaan dan ejekan yang menunjukkan bahwa berhala-berhala itu bukanlah tuhan dan para penyembahnya hanyalah orang-orang yang kurang waras akalnya.
"Mereka berkata, ‘Siapakah yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami? Sungguh dia orang yang zalim’.” (Al-Anbiya: 59)
Maksudnya, orang yang berbuat ini adalah orang yang zalim.
Ayat 60
Kemudian disebutkan dalam firman selanjutnya: “Mereka berkata, ‘Kami dengar ada seorang pemuda yang mencela berhala-berhala ini yang bernama Ibrahim’.” (Al-Anbiya: 60)
Orang yang melaporkan demikian adalah seseorang yang mendengar Ibrahim mengucapkan sumpahnya, bahwa dia akan membuat tipu daya terhadap berhala-berhala mereka. Ia melaporkan kepada kaumnya: “Kami dengar ada seorang pemuda yang mencela berhala-berhala ini yang bernama Ibrahim.” (Al-Anbiya: 60)
Ibnu Abu Hatim mengatakan, telah menceritakan kepada kami Muhammad ibnu Auf telah menceritakan kepada kami Sa'id ibnu Mansur, telah menceritakan kepada kami Jarir ibnu Abdul Hamid, dari Qabus, dari ayahnya, dari Ibnu Abbas yang telah mengatakan bahwa tiap kali Allah mengutus seorang nabi maka ia masih berusia muda, dan tidaklah seseorang dianugerahi ilmu melainkan selagi ia masih berusia muda. Lalu Ibnu Abbas membaca firman-Nya: "Mereka berkata, ‘Kami dengar ada seorang pemuda yang mencela berhala-berhala ini yang bernama Ibrahim’.” (Al-Anbiya: 60)
Ayat 61
Allah ﷻ berfirman, menceritakan ucapan mereka: “Mereka berkata, ‘(Kalau demikian) bawalah dia dengan cara yang dapat dilihat orang banyak’.” (Al-Anbiya: 61)
Yakni di mata orang banyak, yang saat itu semua orang hadir. Ternyata apa yang telah direncanakan oleh Nabi Ibrahim mencapai sasarannya dengan tepat. Dalam pertemuan yang besar ini Ibrahim a.s. bermaksud menjelaskan kepada mereka akan kebodohan dan kekurangan akal mereka karena menyembah berhala-berhala tersebut yang tidak dapat menolak suatu mudarat (bahaya) pun dari dirinya, tidak pula dapat membela dirinya. Maka bagaimana bisa berhala-berhala itu dimintai pertolongan?
Ayat 62-63
“Mereka bertanya, ‘Apakah kamu yang melakukan perbuatan ini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami, hai Ibrahim?’ Ibrahim menjawab, ‘Sebenarnya patung yang besar itulah yang melakukannya’.” (Al-Anbiya: 62-63) Yakni berhala yang dibiarkannya dan tidak dipecahkannya itu.
Ayat 63
“Maka tanyakanlah kepada berhala itu, jika mereka dapat berbicara.” (Al-Anbiya: 63)
Sesungguhnya Ibrahim a.s. melontarkan jawaban ini tiada lain agar mereka menyadari bahwa berhala itu tidak dapat bicara karena berhala itu berupa patung yang terbuat dari benda mati (lalu mengapa mereka menyembahnya).
Di dalam kitab Sahihain disebutkan sebuah hadis melalui Hisyam ibnu Hissan, dari Muhammad ibnu Sirin, dari Abu Hurairah r.a., bahwa Rasulullah ﷺ pernah bersabda: Sesungguhnya Ibrahim as. tidak berdusta selain dalam tiga hal. Dua di antaranya terhadap Zat Allah, yaitu yang disebutkan di dalam firman-Nya, "Sebenarnya patung yang besar itulah yang melakukannya." (Al-Anbiya: 63). Dan apa yang disebutkan oleh firman-Nya, "Sesungguhnya aku sakit." (Ash-Shaffat: 89). Dan ketika Ibrahim sedang berjalan di suatu negeri yang berada di bawah kekuasaan seorang raja yang angkara murka, saat itu ia membawa Sarah istrinya lalu ia turun istirahat di suatu tempat. Maka ada seseorang melaporkan kepada raja yang angkara murka itu, bahwa sesungguhnya telah singgah di negerimu ini seorang lelaki dengan membawa seorang wanita yang sangat cantik. Maka si raja lalim itu mengirimkan utusannya memanggil Ibrahim, kemudian Ibrahim datang menghadap, dan si raja lalim bertanya, "Siapakah wanita yang kamu bawa itu?” Ibrahim Menjawab, "Saudara perempuanku.” Si raja berkata, "Pergilah kamu dan bawalah dia menghadap kepadaku.”
Maka Ibrahim pergi menuju ke tempat Sarah, lalu ia berkata kepadanya, "Sesungguhnya si raja lalim ini telah bertanya kepadaku tentang kamu, saya jawab bahwa engkau adalah saudara perempuanku, maka janganlah kamu membantah aku di hadapannya. Karena sesungguhnya engkau adalah saudara perempuanku menurut Kitabullah. Dan sesungguhnya di muka bumi ini tiada seorang muslim pun selain aku dan kamu.”
Ibrahim membawa Sarah pergi, lalu Ibrahim melakukan shalat. Setelah Sarah masuk ke dalam istana raja dan si raja melihatnya maka si raja menubruknya dengan maksud akan memeluknya, tetapi si raja mendadak menjadi sangat kaku sekujur tubuhnya. Lalu ia berkata, "Doakanlah kepada Allah untuk kesembuhanku, maka aku tidak akan mengganggumu.”
Sarah berdoa untuk kesembuhan si raja. Akhirnya si raja sembuh, tetapi si raja kembali menubruknya dengan maksud memeluknya. Tiba-tiba ia mendadak mengalami peristiwa yang pertama tadi, bahkan kali ini lebih parah. Raja melakukan hal itu sebanyak tiga kali; setiap kali ia melakukannya, ia ditimpa musibah itu seperti kejadian yang pertama dan yang kedua. Akhirnya si raja berkata, "Doakanlah kepada Allah, maka aku tidak akan mengganggumu lagi.”
Sarah berdoa untuk kesembuhan si raja, dan si raja sembuh seketika itu juga. Sesudah itu si raja memanggil pengawalnya yang terdekat dan berkata, "Sesungguhnya yang kamu datangkan kepadaku ini bukanlah manusia melainkan setan. Keluarkanlah dia dan berikanlah Hajar kepadanya.” Maka Sarah dikeluarkan (dibebaskan) dan diberi hadiah seorang budak wanita bernama Hajar, lalu pulang (ke tempat suaminya). Setelah Ibrahim merasakan kedatangan istrinya, ia berhenti dari shalatnya, lalu bertanya, "Bagaimanakah beritanya?” Sarah menjawab, "Allah telah melindungiku dari tipu daya si kafir yang durhaka itu dan memberiku seorang pelayan bernama Hajar.”
Muhammad ibnu Sirin mengatakan bahwa Abu Hurairah apabila usai menceritakan kisah ini mengatakan, "Itulah cerita ibu kalian, hai orang-orang nomaden.”
Ibrahim menjawab dengan jawaban yang mengejutkan untuk memberi pelajaran kepada mereka. Beliau berpura-pura tidak mengaku dirinya yang merusak patung-patung itu. Dia menjawab, 'Sebenarnya patung besar itu yang melakukannya, maka tanyakanlah kepada mereka, jika mereka dapat berbicara. ' Melalui jawaban ini pemuda Ibrahim menyadarkan mereka bahwa patung itu tidak patut disembah. 64. Jawaban Ibrahim menyadarkan mereka. Maka mereka, setelah mendengar jawaban tersebut, kembali kepada kesadaran mereka yang jernih sesuai akal sehat dan nurani bahwa patung-patung itu tidak layak di-sembah. Dan pemimpin mereka pun berkata, 'Sesungguhnya kamu sekalianlah yang menzalimi diri sendiri, terus-menerus menyembah patung yang tidak bisa bicara, tidak bisa membela diri, apalagi menyelamatkan manusia. '.
Diterangkan dalam ayat ini jawaban Ibrahim atas tuduhan itu. Dimana jawaban Ibrahim ternyata sangat mengagetkan mereka, sebab tidak sesuai dengan harapan mereka, karena Ibrahim tidak memberikan pengakuan bahwa ia yang melakukan pengrusakan, tetapi ia mengatakan bahwa yang melakukan pengrusakan terhadap patung-patung itu justru adalah patung terbesar yang masih utuh.
Jawaban semacam itu dimaksudkan Ibrahim untuk mencapai tujuannya, yaitu untuk menyadarkan kaumnya bahwa patung-patung itu tidak patut untuk disembah, karena ia tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa. Apalagi untuk membela dirinya.
Jelas bahwa kaumnya tidak akan percaya bahwa patung terbesar itulah yang melakukan pengrusakan terhadap patung-patung yang lain. Sebab, mereka menyadari bahwa hal itu mustahil akan terjadi, karena patung tidak dapat berbuat apa pun, sebab dia adalah benda mati. Jika mereka telah menginsafi hal tersebut, sudah sepatutnya mereka berhenti menyembah patung.
Pada akhir ayat ini disebutkan ucapan Ibrahim selanjutnya terhadap kaumnya, yang menyuruh mereka menanyakan kepada patung-patung itu sendiri, siapakah yang telah merusak mereka.
Ucapan ini menyebabkan kaumnya semakin terpojok, karena seandainya mereka bertanya kepada patung-patung itu, niscaya mereka tidak akan memperoleh jawaban, sebab patung-patung tersebut tidak mendengar dan tidak dapat berbicara. Kalau demikian keadaannya, patutkah patung-patung itu disembah? Jika masih ada orang yang menyembahnya, pastilah orang tersebut tidak mempergunakan pikirannya yang sehat.
Ibrahim Menghancurkan Berhala
“Dan demi Allah."
(pangkal ayat 57).
Nabi Ibrahim telah mulai perkataannya dengan sumpah. Tandanya beliau berkata bersungguh-sungguh, bukan bermain-main. "Akan aku lakukan suatu tipudaya terhadap berhala-berhala kamu itu, sesudah kamu berpaling."
(ujung ayat 57).
Artinya, kalau kamu telah berpaling, atau telah meninggalkan rumah tempat kamu mengumpulkan berhala itu, saya akan melakukan perbuatan yang berupa tipudaya terhadapnya. Tetapi apa macamnya tipudaya yang akan dilakukannya itu tidaklah diberitahukannya.
“Lalu dia jadikan mereka berkeping-keping."
(pangkal ayat 58).
Artinya, pada suatu ketika kaumnya penyembah berhala-berhala sedang tidak berkumpul menyembahnya di sana, karena sedang menghadapi urusan masing-masing atau sedang berada di rumah, Ibrahim masuk ke tempat pemujaan itu membawa alat untuk menghancurkan berhala-berhala itu; mungkin semacam kapak. Dicincangnya satu demi satu sehingga berkeping-keping. "Kecuali berhala mereka yang besar." Hanya satu saja, yaitu berhala yang paling besar yang tidak diapa-apakannya.
“Supaya mereka kembali kepadanya."
(ujung ayat 58).
Artinya, kalau semua berhala dicincang dan dikeping-keping dan satu saja yang tinggal, yaitu yang paling besar tentulah sesudah keliling melihat yang hancur mereka akan kembali kepada yang tinggal satu itu. Ada tersebut di dalam riwayat yang disampatkan oleh as-Suddi dan Mujahid. bahwa berhala yang besar itu tidak dirusakkan oleh Ibrahim, tetapi kapak yang digunakannya buat menghancurkan berhala-berhala yang kecil-kecil itu digantungkannya dt leher berhala besar yang tidak dirusakkannya itu.
“Mereka bertanya: “Siapakah yang berbuat begini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kita',"
(pangkal ayat 59).
Artinya, setelah mereka melihat berhala-berhala yang mereka pertuhan itu telah jadi puing, timbullah pertanyaan siapa agaknya yang berbuat pekerjaan kepi ini: “Sesungguhnya dia adalah termasuk orang-orang zalim."
(ujung ayat 59).
Sangatlah murka mereka rupanya kepada orang yang mencincang itu, sehingga telah dijelaskan bahwa pembuat kejahatan ini sangat zalim, tidak bertimbang rasa. Masakan tuhan-tuhan yang dipuja, dipuji dan disembah lalu dicincang dikeping-keping
“Mereka menjawab:"
(pangkal ayat 60).
Yang menjawab pertanyaan ini ialah orang-orang yang berada di dekat tempat kejadian itu: “Kami mendengar seorang anak muda yang menyebut-nyebut mereka, kata orang namanya Ibrahim."
(ujung ayat 60).
Orang itu seorang anak muda yang banyak menyebut-nyebut tentang berhala, mencela dan mencaci orang-orang yang memujanya. Dikatakannya bahwa menyembah berhala adalah suatu perbuatan yang bodoh. Dan pernah juga anak muda itu mengatakan bahwa dia bermaksud hendak membuat suatu tipudaya tentang berhala-berhala ini. Kata orang nama anak muda itu ialah Ibrahim!
“Mereka berkata:"
(pangkal ayat 61).
Yang berkata di sini ialah pihak yang berkuasa datam negeri, yaitu Raja Namrudz, dan orang besar-besanya. “Maka bawalah dia di hadapan mati orang banyak." Artinya carilah pemuda itu sampai dapat dan bawa kemari. Membawanya hendaklah disaksikan oleh orang banyak. Sebab kesalahan ini amat besar, sangat menyinggung kepada perasaan orang banyak. "Supaya mereka saksikan."
(ujung ayat 61).
Dari kedua ayat ini, ayat 60 dan 61 kita mendapat beberapa pelajaran. Pertama ialah tentang keadaan Nabi Ibrahim waktu menghancurkan berhala itu. Dia masih terhitung anak muda! Yang berani mengerjakan pekerjaan nekat begitu memang hanya anak muda.
Kita melihat di dalam al-Qur'an beberapa kali cerita tentang pekerjaan penting dikerjakan oleh anak muda. Yang menyembunyikan diri ke dalam alKahfi ialah beberapa orang anak muda karena keyakinan terhadap Allah yang berpegang kepada Tauhid amat berlawan dengan kepercayaan kaumnya yang mempersekutukan yang lain dengan Allah. Di dalam Surat 18 al-Kahfi, pemuda-pemuda itu dua kali mendapat pujian. Pertama di ayat 10, kedua di ayat 13. Di ayat 10 dikatakan:
“Seketika melindungkan diri beberapa pemuda ke dalam Kahfr, lalu mereka berkata: “Ya Tuhan kami, anugerahilah kami rahmat langsung dari Engkau, dan sediakan kiranya bagi kami dan hal-ihwal kami ini kecerdikan,"
“Sesungguhnya mereka itu adalah beberapa orang anak yang beriman kepada Tuhan mereka, dan Kami tambahi untuk mereka petunjuk."
Demikian pentingnya darah muda. Sehingga Ibnu Abbas pernah berkata: “Tidaklah Allah mengutus seorang Nabi melainkan anak muda. Dan seorang yang alim tidak pula diberi Allah ilmu melainkan di waktu muda." Lalu beliau baca ayat 60 Surat al-Anbiya' ini sebagai alasan.
Inilah yang menimbulkan ilham pada segolongan ahli tashawuf untuk mengadakan gerakan “futtuwwah". Nabi Musa pun membawa anak muda bernama Yusya' menjadi temannya pergi mencari Nabi Khidhir, (al-Kahfi ayat 60), yang disebut fata-hu ( … ) ialah karena dididik akan jadi pengganti beliau nanti.
Di zaman sekarang, dinamai Kader, Pelajaran yang kita ambil dan ayat 61 ialah bahwa di zaman purbakala, zaman raja-raja memerintah betum dibatasi dengan berbagai undang-undang itu, rasa keadilan pun telah dijaga. Meskipun tuduhan telah berat kepada Ibrahim karena ada orang-orang yang menyaksikan dia ada menyebut-nyebut berhala itu, ketika diauruh memanggil atau menangkap dia, raja memerintahkan agar dilakukan pemeriksaan di muka orang banyak. Supaya pemeriksaan dilakukan dengan teliti dan jika patut dihukum, supaya hukum pun diketahui orang banyak. Dan Ibrahim pun tidak merasa gentar melakukan itu, karena percaya bahwa dia akan diperiksa dengan seksama.
Berkata Ibnu Katsir ketika menafsirkan ayat ini: “Memang Inilah yang dikehendaki Ibrahim a.s., yaitu supaya mereka di hadapan pertemuan besar itu, bagaimana banyaknya kebodohan mereka dan sedikitnya akal mereka, karena menyembah berhala yang tidak dapat menangkis mudharat, dan tidak dapat menolong apa-apa."
Dan di dalam ayat kita dapat pula mengambil kesimpulan bahwa pada zaman itu orang pun telah mulai mempunyai hukum yang teratur, tidak segera menjatuhkan hukum semena-mena sebelum mengadakan pemeriksaan dan penyelidikan.
Nabi Ibrahim dicari sampai dapat, lalu dihadapkan ke hadapan penguasa dan mulailah ditanya:
“Mereka berkata: “Apakah benar engkau yang berbuat begini terhadap tuhan-tuhan kami, hai Ibrahim?"
(ayat 62).
Berbuat begini, sampai berkeping-keping hancur? Padahal semuanya adalah tuhan-tuhan dan dewa-dewa yang kami puja dan kami besarkan?
“Dia menjawab: “Bahkan yang telah berbuat begini ialah yang terbesar di antara mereka ini,"
(pangkal ayat 63).
Inilah penjawaban yang telah dia sediakan sejak semula, Itu sebabnya maka yang paling besar tidak dia rusakkan dan kapak perusak itu digantungkannya pada ieher berhala besar itu.
Dengan jawaban seperti ini Ibrahim hendak mengambil perhatian mereka bahwa berhala yang paling besar marah, mengapa di samping dia mereka itu membuat lagi berhala-berhala kecil dan menyembah pula ke sana. Selanjutnya Ibrahim berkata: “Maka tanyakanlah kepada mereka itu, jika mereka pandai bercakap-cakap."
(ujung ayat 63).
Inilah suatu tantangan yang benar-benar membuat pihak kaumnya pasti terdesak. Jika mereka mengatakan bahwa berhala yang mereka sembah itu memang tuhan, tentu menurut akal yang sihal berhala itu pandai bercakap, baik yang telah hancur berkeping-keping, atau berhala yang terlebih besar yang tidak turut dihancurkan oleh Ibrahim itu.
Mendengar jawaban Ibrahim yang demikian, mulailah dengan serta-merta tergerak fikiran mereka yang ash, yang belum kacau, karena kebiasaan pusaka nenek-moyang:
“Maka kembalilah mereka kepada diri mereka masing-masing."
(pangkal ayat 64).
Artinya, mulailah timbut fikiran dalam diri mereka masing-masing, bahwa itu tidak mungkin. Jika ditanyai berhala-berhala itu sudah terang tidak ada satu juga yang akan menjawab, sebab semua hanya benda yang tidak bernyawa. "Lalu mereka pun berkata: Sesungguhnya kamulah orang-orang yang zalim."
(ujung ayat 64).
Inilah, kelanjutan dari kata-kata mereka setelah mereka kembali kepada diri mereka masing-masing. Tegasnya bahwa mereka semua, yaitu orang-orang yang berkuasa telah sampai kepada fikiran yang benar, bahwa tidak mungkin berhala-berhala dapat menjawab jika ditanyai siapa yang mencincang mereka, dan tidak mungkin pula berhala yang paling besar mengakui dialah yang menghancurkan kawan-kawannya yang kecil-kecil itu dengan kapak yang dIsandangnya. Akhinya pun sampailah mereka kepada keinsafan bahwa perbuatan mereka bertuhan kepada berhala itu adalah perbuatan orang yang zalim. Perbuatan orang yang berjalan di tempat gelap, tidak diterangi oleh akal sihal. Mereka mengaku, masing-masing menyatahkan kawan. "Kamulah orang-orang yang zalim."
Tetapi meskipun semua sudah mengerti bahwa perbuatan mereka menyembah berhala itu adalah perbuatan zalim, gelap dan bodoh, namun Ibrahim juga yang salah! Sebab yang berkuasa ialah mereka.
“Kemudian itu ditundukkanlah kepada mereka."
(pangkal ayat 65).
Artinya, . sebagaimana ditafsirkan oleh al-Qurthubi, mereka kembali lagi kepada kebodohan dan keras kepala mereka sehingga tidak mereka sadari, kepala mereka dibuat Tuhan jadi tunduk.
Qatadah menafsirkan bahwa kaum itu telah mulai faham kesaiahan kepercayaan mereka, tetapi mereka masih hendak menunjukkan bahwa mereka berkuasa. Oleh sebab itu meskipun hendak memperlihatkan kuasa, namun muka dengan tidak dIsadari tertunduk juga.
Arti yang terkandung di dalam ayat yang pendek ini dapat kita rasakan di mana saja tentang sikap suatu pemerintahan yang telah salah. tetapi tidak mau mengaku salah. Latu mereka hendak menimpakan kesalahan kepada orang yang menegur kesaiahan mereka. Begitulah dilakukan penguasa-penguasa itu kepada Ibrahim dengan perkataan mereka: “Sesungguhnya engkau sendiri sudah tahu bahwa tidaklah berhala-berhala itu dapat bercakap-cakap."
(ujung ayat 65).
Dengan cara yang demikian, mereka tetap memberatkan kesalahan kepada Ibrahim. Tidak masuk akal berhala yang besar yang mencincang berhala-berhala yang kecil. tni bukan perbuatan berhala yang tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa. Ini adalah pasti perbuatan manusia. Berhala itu biau, tidak bergerak, usahkan mencincang! Dan manusia yang mencincang itu ialah engkau sendiri Ibrahim!
(Ibrahim menjawab) seraya menyembunyikan apa yang sebenarnya telah ia lakukan, ("Sebenarnya patung yang besar itulah yang melakukannya, maka tanyakanlah kepada berhala-berhala itu) siapakah pelakunya (jika mereka dapat berbicara") Jawab syarat dari kalimat ayat ini telah didahulukan dan kalimat yang sebelumnya merupakan sindiran bagi para penyembah berhala, bahwa berhala-berhala yang telah dimaklumi ketidakmampuannya untuk berbuat itu bukan tuhan.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
Belum tersedia. Dibutuhkan biaya untuk menambahkan tafsir ini.
