Quran Universe
26:75

قَالَ أَفَرَءَيۡتُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡبُدُونَ

Qala afaraaytum ma kuntum taAAbudoona

He said, "Then do you see what you have been worshipping,

Word by word
  1. قَالَHe said
  2. أَفَرَءَيۡتُمDo you see
  3. مَّاwhat
  4. كُنتُمۡyou have been
  5. تَعۡبُدُونَworshipping
Ash-Shu'ara · 26:75Makkah

Have you really looked at what you worship?

Ibrahim asks them to see clearly

Ibrahim's challenge
do you seereally look
at
what you worshipmade by your hands
What looking does
keep doing itwithout looking
look honestlyand see it is empty

After their answer about their fathers, Ibrahim says: then do you see what you have been worshipping? He asks them to really look at the statues. Ibn Kathir says he was challenging them: if these idols have any influence, let them harm me.

You have lived years on autopilot around something: a habit, a goal, a person you put above everything. Ibrahim's question is simple: have you actually looked at it? Stop for a second and see it for what it is.

I know what I live for. I do not need to examine it.

Looking honestly at what I give my life to is the first step.

Try this

Take two minutes tonight and write what you spent most of your energy on this week.

Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (shared passage from 26:69)

And recite to them the story of Ibrahim (69)When he said to his father and his people: "What do you worship? (70)They said: "We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted. (71)He said: "Do they hear you when you call? (72)"Or do they benefit you or do they cause harm? (73)They said: "(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so. (74)He said: "Do you observe that which you have been worshipping – (75)"You and your ancient fathers? (76)"Verily, they are enemies to me, save the Lord of Al-'Alamin, (77)

How the Close Friend of Allah, Ibrahim Spoke out Against Shirk

Here Allah tells us about His servant, Messenger and Close Friend, Ibrahim, upon him be peace, the leader of the pure monotheists. Allah commanded His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ to recite this story to his Ummah so that they could follow this example of sincerity towards Allah, putting one's trust in Him, worshipping Him Alone with no partner or associate, and renouncing Shirk and its people. Allah granted guidance to Ibrahim before, i.e., from a very early age he had denounced his people's practice of worshipping idols with Allah, may He be exalted.

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

(When he said to his father and his people: "What do you worship?") meaning: what are these statues to which you are so devoted?

قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَاكِفِينَ

(They said: "We worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted.") meaning: we are devoted to worshipping them and praying to them.

قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ - أَوْ يَنفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ - قَالُوا بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ

(He said: "Do they hear you when you call? Or do they benefit you or do they cause harm?" They said: "(Nay) but we found our fathers doing so.")

They knew that their idols could not do anything, but they had seen their fathers doing this, so they made haste to follow in their footsteps. So Ibrahim said to them:

أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ - أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ - فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

(Do you observe that which you have been worshipping – you and your ancient fathers? Verily, they are enemies to me, save the Lord of Al-'Alamin.) meaning, 'if these idols mean anything and have any influence, then let them do me any kind of harm, for I am an enemy to them and I do not care about them or think anything of them.' This is akin to the way Allah described Nuh:

فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءَكُمْ

(So devise your plot, you and your partners)(10:71). And Hud, upon him be peace, said:

إِنِّي أُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ وَاشْهَدُوا أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ - مِن دُونِهِ ۖ فَكِيدُونِي جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ لَا تُنظِرُونِ - إِنِّي تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

("I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship. So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature but He has the grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the straight path)(11:54-56). rSimilarly, Ibrahim denounced their gods and idols and said:

وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ

(And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah, while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah)(6:81). And Allah said:

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ

(Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim) until His saying;

حَتَّىٰ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ

(until you believe in Allah Alone)(60:4).

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ - إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ - وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

(And (remember) when Ibrahim said to his father and his people: "Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, except Him Who created me; and verily, He will guide me." And he made it a Word lasting among his offspring, that they may turn back)(43:26-28). meaning: "La Ilaha Illallah."