Al-Anbiya 21:54 قال لقد كنتم انتم واباوكم في ضلال مبين ٥٤

21:54

قَالَ

لَقَدۡ

كُنتُمۡ

أَنتُمۡ

وَءَابَآؤُكُمۡ

فِي

ضَلَٰلٖ

مُّبِينٖ

٥٤

He said, “Surely you and your fathers have been in open error.”

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. Even earlier We had given Ibrāhīm his right course, and We knew him well 52. when he said to his father and his people, “What are these statues you are devoted to?” 53. They said, “We found our fathers worshipping them,” 54. He said, “Surely you and your fathers have been in open error.” 55. They said, “Did you come to us with truth or are you one of the triflers?” 56. He said, “No, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who has created them, and I am one of those who bear witness to it. 57. And I swear by Allah that I will devise something against your idols after you have gone away turning your backs.” 58. Then, he turned all of them into pieces, except the big one of them, so that they may come back to it. 59. They said, “Who has done this to our gods? He is one of the wrongdoers indeed.” 60. Some of them said, “We have heard a youth talking about them. He is called Ibrāhīm.” 61. They said, “Then, bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may see”. 62. They said, “Is it you O Ibrāhīm who has done this to our gods?” 63. He said, “Rather, this is done by this chief of theirs. So, ask them if they can speak.” 64. So they turned to one another and said, “In fact, you yourselves are the wrongdoers.” 65. Then, hanging their heads they reversed their position (and replied to Ibrāhīm,) “You already knew that they do not speak.” 66. He said, “Do you then worship, beside Allah, what does neither benefit you in the least nor harm you? 67. Fie upon you and upon what you worship other than Allah. Do you then not understand?” 68. They said, “(O people) burn him and help your gods, if you are to take action.” 69. We said, “O fire, be cold and safe for Ibrāhīm.” 70. And they intended to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. 71. And We rescued him and LūT towards the land we blessed for all the worlds.

- T. Usmani