Quran Universe
37:86

أَئِفۡكًا ءَالِهَةٗ دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ

Aifkan alihatan doona Allahi tureedoona

Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allah you desire?

Word by word
  1. أَئِفۡكًاIs it falsehood
  2. ءَالِهَةٗgods
  3. دُونَother than
  4. ٱللَّهِAllah
  5. تُرِيدُونَ(that) you desire
As-Saffat · 37:86Makkah

You want a lie for a god instead of Allah?

False gods are something people choose

What they chose
a falsehoodgods other than Allah
that you
desirewant, choose
The real issue
they did not knowan honest mistake
they wanted itdesire chose the lie

Ibrahim's second question names it plainly: a falsehood, gods besides Allah, that you desire. The word points at wanting. The idols were not forced on them. They were preferred.

Sometimes you know the truth but want something else more. The extra hour on the phone instead of prayer. The deal that is a little dishonest. It is not confusion. It is wanting. Naming the want is the first step out.

I just did not know better.

Often I do know. The honest question is what I want more than Allah.

Try this

Name one thing you knowingly put before Allah this week. Put it second, once, today.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 37:83)

And verily, among those who followed his way was Ibrahim (83)When he came to his Lord with a Salim heart (84)When he said to his father and to his people: "What is it that which you worship? (85)"Is it a falsehood – gods other than Allah – that you desire? (86)"Then what think you about the Lord of the all that exists? (87)

The Story of Ibrahim and His People

Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him:

وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ 

(And verily, among those who followed his ways was Ibrahim.) means, he was one of the followers of his religion. Mujahid said, "He was following his path and his way."

إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ 

(When he came to his Lord with a Salim heart.) Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This means that he bore witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that 'Awf said, "I said to Muhammad bin Sirin, 'What is the Salim heart?' He said, 'One which knows that Allah is true and that the Hour will undoubtedly come to pass, and that Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves.'" Al-Hasan said, "One that is free from Shirk." 'Urwah said, "One that is not cursed."

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ

(When he said to his father and to his people: "What is it that which you worship?") He denounced his people for their worship of idols and false gods, Allah said:

أَئِفْكًا آلِهَةً دُونَ اللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ - فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(Is it a falsehood – gods other than Allah – that you desire? Then what think you about the Lord of the all that exists?)

Qatadah said, "This means, 'what do you think He will do with you when you meet Him, given that you worshipped others alongside Him?"