Al-Anbiya 21:55 قالوا اجيتنا بالحق ام انت من اللاعبين ٥٥

21:55

قَالُوٓاْ

أَجِئۡتَنَا

بِٱلۡحَقِّ

أَمۡ

أَنتَ

مِنَ

ٱللَّٰعِبِينَ

٥٥

They asked, “Have you come to us with the truth, or is this a joke?”

Read Tafsir

Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

The Story of Ibrahim and his People

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 حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِ

…

The Story of Ibrahim and his People

Allah tells us about His close Friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and how He bestowed upon him guidance aforetime,

…

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Read in Context

Chapter 21, Page 326, Juz 17

51. And indeed, We had granted Abraham sound judgment early on, for We knew him well ˹to be worthy of it˺. 52. ˹Remember˺ when he questioned his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are so devoted?” 53. They replied, “We found our forefathers worshipping them.” 54. He responded, “Indeed, you and your forefathers have been clearly astray.” 55. They asked, “Have you come to us with the truth, or is this a joke?” 56. He replied, “In fact, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them ˹both˺. And to that I bear witness.” 57. ˹Then he said to himself,˺ “By Allah! I will surely plot against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away.” 58. So he smashed them into pieces, except the biggest of them, so they might turn to it ˹for answers˺. 59. They protested, “Who dared do this to our gods? It must be an evildoer!” 60. Some said, “We heard a young man, called Abraham, speaking ˹ill˺ of them.” 61. They demanded, “Bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may witness ˹his trial˺.” 62. They asked, “Was it you who did this to our gods, O Abraham?” 63. He replied ˹sarcastically˺, “No, this one—the biggest of them—did it! So ask them, if they can talk!” 64. So they came back to their senses, saying ˹to one another˺, “You yourselves are truly the wrongdoers!” 65. Then they ˹quickly˺ regressed to their ˹original˺ mind-set, ˹arguing,˺ “You already know that those ˹idols˺ cannot talk.” 66. He rebuked ˹them˺, “Do you then worship—instead of Allah—what can neither benefit nor harm you in any way? 67. Shame on you and whatever you worship instead of Allah! Do you not have any sense?” 68. They concluded, “Burn him up to avenge your gods, if you must act.” 69. We ordered, “O fire! Be cool and safe for Abraham!” 70. They had sought to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. 71. Then We delivered him, along with Lot, to the land We had showered with blessings for all people.

- Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran