Tarikh (al-Tabari) 117
The story of Abraham the Friend (peace and blessings be upon him)
ذَكَرَ تَعَالَى مُنَاظَرَتَهُ لقومه ودعوتهم إِلَى تَرْكِ مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَأْمُرَهُمْ بِعِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فقال تَعَالَى: وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِنْ لَمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِي وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَنْ نَشَاءُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ [ الْأَنْعَامِ: 75 - 83 ]. وَهَذَا الْمَقَامُ مَقَامُ مُنَاظَرَةٍ لِقَوْمِهِ، وَبَيَانٌ لَهُمْ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْأَجْرَامَ الْمُشَاهَدَةَ مِنَ الْكَوَاكِبِ النَّيِّرَةِ لَا تَصْلُحُ لِلْأُلُوهِيَّةِ، وَلَا أَنْ تُعْبَدَ مَعَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ؛ لِأَنَّهَا مَخْلُوقَةٌ مَرْبُوبَةٌ مَصْنُوعَةٌ مُدَبَّرَةٌ مُسَخَّرَةٌ تَطْلُعُ تَارَةً وَتَأْفُلُ أُخْرَى، فَتَغِيبُ عَنْ هَذَا الْعَالَمِ، وَالرَّبُّ تَعَالَى لَا يَغِيبُ عَنْهُ شَيْءٌ. وَلَا تَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَافِيَةٌ، بَلْ هُوَ الدَّائِمُ الْبَاقِي بِلَا زَوَالٍ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، وَلَا رَبَّ سِوَاهُ فَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَوَّلًا عَدَمَ صَلَاحِيَةِ الْكَوْكَبِ - قِيلَ: هُوَ الزُّهَرَةُ - لِذَلِكَ تَرَقَّى مِنْهَا إِلَى الْقَمَرِ الَّذِي هُوَ أَضْوَأُ مِنْهَا وَأَبْهَى مِنْ حُسْنِهَا، ثُمَّ تَرَقَّى إِلَى الشَّمْسِ الَّتِي هِيَ أَشَدُّ الْأَجْرَامِ الْمُشَاهَدَةِ ضِيَاءً وَسَنَاءً وَبَهَاءً، فَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهَا مُسَخَّرَةٌ مُسَيَّرَةٌ مُقَدَّرَةٌ مَرْبُوبَةٌ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ [ فُصِّلَتْ: 37 ]. وَلِهَذَا قَالَ: فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً. أَيْ طَالِعَةً قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا. أَيْ لَسْتُ أُبَالِي فِي هَذِهِ الْآلِهَةِ الَّتِي تَعْبُدُونَهَا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَنْفَعُ شَيْئًا وَلَا تَسْمَعُ وَلَا تَعْقِلُ، بَلْ هِيَ مَرْبُوبَةٌ مُسَخَّرَةٌ كَالْكَوَاكِبِ وَنَحْوِهَا، أَوْ مَصْنُوعَةٌ مَنْحُوتَةٌ مَنْجُورَةٌ. وَالظَّاهِرُ أَنَّ مَوْعِظَتَهُ هَذِهِ فِي الْكَوَاكِبِ لِأَهْلِ حَرَّانَ فَإِنَّهُمْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُونَهَا، وَهَذَا يَرُدُّ قَوْلَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ هَذَا حِينَ خَرَجَ مِنَ السَّرَبِ لَمَّا كَانَ صَغِيرًا، كَمَا ذَكَرَهُ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ وَغَيْرُهُ، وَهُوَ مُسْتَنِدٌ إِلَى أَخْبَارٍ إِسْرَائِيلِيَّةٍ لَا يُوثَقُ بِهَا، وَلَا سِيَّمَا إِذَا خَالَفَتِ الْحَقَّ، وَأَمَّا أَهْلُ بَابِلَ فَكَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْأَصْنَامَ، وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ نَاظَرَهُمْ فِي عِبَادَتِهَا، وَكَسَرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَهَانَهَا وَبَيَّنَ بُطْلَانَهَا. إنكار إبراهيم على قومه عبادة الأوثان كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَانًا مَوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضًا وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَ. وَقَالَ فِي سُورَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ: وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رُشْدَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنْتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنْتَ مِنَ اللَّاعِبِينَ قَالَ بَلْ رَبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ قَالُوا مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَى أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ قَالُوا أَأَنْتَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا يَاإِبْرَاهِيمُ قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِنْ كَانُوا يَنْطِقُونَ فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَؤُلَاءِ يَنْطِقُونَ قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ أُفٍّ لَكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانْصُرُوا آلِهَتَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ قُلْنَا يَانَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَخْسَرِينَ [ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ: 51 - 70 ]. وَقَالَ فِي سُورَةِ الشُّعَرَاءِ: وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَاكِفِينَ قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ أَوْ يَنْفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ قَالُوا بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ وَالَّذِي هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِي وَيَسْقِينِ وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ وَالَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ وَالَّذِي أَطْمَعُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ [ الشُّعَرَاءِ: 69 - 83 ]. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى فِي سُورَةِ الصَّافَّاتِ: وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ جَاءَ رَبَّهُ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ أَئِفْكًا آلِهَةً دُونَ اللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُومِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ فَتَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ فَرَاغَ إِلَى آلِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنْطِقُونَ فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ فَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ قَالُوا ابْنُوا لَهُ بُنْيَانًا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِي الْجَحِيمِ فَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَسْفَلِينَ [ الصَّافَّاتِ: 83 - 98 ]. يُخْبِرُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهُ أَنْكَرَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ عِبَادَةَ الْأَوْثَانِ، وَحَقَّرَهَا عِنْدَهُمْ، وَصَغَّرَهَا، وَتَنَقَّصَهَا فَقَالَ: مَا هَذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنْتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ. أَيْ مُعْتَكِفُونَ عِنْدَهَا وَخَاضِعُونَ لَهَا قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ. مَا كَانَ حُجَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا صَنِيعُ الْآبَاءِ وَالْأَجْدَادِ، وَمَا كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَنْدَادِ قَالَ لَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ. كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ أَئِفْكًا آلِهَةً دُونَ اللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ بِهِ أَنَّهُ فَاعِلٌ بِكُمْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمُوهُ وَقَدْ عَبَدْتُمْ غَيْرَهُ. وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ أَوْ يَنْفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ قَالُوا بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ. سَلَّمُوا لَهُ أَنَّهَا لَا تَسْمَعُ دَاعِيًا وَلَا تَنْفَعُ وَلَا تَضُرُّ شَيْئًا، وَإِنَّمَا الْحَامِلُ لَهُمْ عَلَى عِبَادَتِهَا الِاقْتِدَاءُ بِأَسْلَافِهِمْ، وَمَنْ هُوَ مِثْلُهُمْ فِي الضَّلَالِ مِنَ الْآبَاءِ الْجُهَّالِ؛ وَلِهَذَا قَالَ لَهُمْ: أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ. وَهَذَا بُرْهَانٌ قَاطِعٌ عَلَى بُطْلَانِ إِلَهِيَّةِ مَا ادَّعَوْهُ مِنَ الْأَصْنَامِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهَا وَتَنَقَّصَ بِهَا، فَلَوْ كَانَتْ تَضُرُّ لَضَرَّتْهُ أَوْ تُؤَثِّرُ لَأَثَّرَتْ فِيهِ قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنْتَ مِنَ اللَّاعِبِينَ. يَقُولُونَ: هَذَا الْكَلَامُ الَّذِي تَقُولُهُ لَنَا، وَتَنْتَقِصُ بِهِ آلِهَتَنَا، وَتَطْعَنُ بِسَبَبِهِ فِي آبَائِنَا تَقُولُهُ مُحِقًّا جَادًّا فِيهِ أَمْ لَاعِبًا قَالَ: بَلْ رَبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ. يَعْنِي: بَلْ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ذَلِكَ جَادًّا مُحِقًّا، وَإِنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّكُمْ، وَرَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاطِرُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْخَالِقُ لَهُمَا عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ سَبَقَ، فَهُوَ الْمُسْتَحِقُّ لِلْعِبَادَةِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ. وَقَوْلُهُ: وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ. أَقْسَمَ لَيَكِيدَنَّ هَذِهِ الْأَصْنَامَ الَّتِي يَعْبُدُونَهَا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَوَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ إِلَى عِيدِهِمْ. قِيلَ: إِنَّهُ قَالَ هَذَا خُفْيَةً فِي نَفْسِهِ. وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ: سَمِعَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ. وَكَانَ لَهُمْ عِيدٌ يَذْهَبُونَ إِلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَرَّةً إِلَى ظَاهِرِ الْبَلَدِ فَدَعَاهُ أَبُوهُ لِيَحْضُرَهُ، فَقَالَ: إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُومِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٌ. عَرَّضَ لَهُمْ فِي الْكَلَامِ حَتَّى تَوَصَّلَ إِلَى مَقْصُودِهِ مِنْ إِهَانَةِ أَصْنَامِهِمْ، وَنُصْرَةِ دِينِ اللَّهِ الْحَقِّ فِي بُطْلَانِ مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَصْنَامِ الَّتِي تَسْتَحِقُّ أَنْ تُكَسَّرَ، وَأَنْ تُهَانَ غَايَةَ الْإِهَانَةِ، فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا إِلَى عِيدِهِمْ، وَاسْتَقَرَّ هُوَ فِي بَلَدِهِمْ فرَاغَ إِلَى آلِهَتِهِمْ. أَيْ ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهَا مُسْرِعًا مُسْتَخْفِيًا فَوَجَدَهَا فِي بَهْوٍ عَظِيمٍ، وَقَدْ وَضَعُوا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيَهَا أَنْوَاعًا مِنَ الْأَطْعِمَةِ قُرْبَانًا إِلَيْهَا، فَقَالَ لَهَا عَلَى سَبِيلِ التَّهَكُّمِ وَالِازْدِرَاءِ: أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنْطِقُونَ فَرَاغَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضَرْبًا بِالْيَمِينِ؛ لِأَنَّهَا أَقْوَى وَأَبْطَشُ وَأَسْرَعُ وَأَقْهَرُ، فَكَسَّرَهَا بِقَدُومٍ فِي يَدِهِ، كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى: فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا أَيْ حُطَامًا كَسَّرَهَا كُلَّهَا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ. قِيلَ: إِنَّهُ وَضَعَ الْقَدُومَ فِي يَدِ الْكَبِيرِ إِشَارَةً إِلَى أَنَّهُ غَارَ أَنْ تُعْبَدَ مَعَهُ هَذِهِ الصِّغَارُ، فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوا مِنْ عِيدِهِمْ، وَوَجَدُوا مَا حَلَّ بِمَعْبُودِهِمْ قَالُوا مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ. وَهَذَا فِيهِ دَلِيلٌ ظَاهِرٌ لَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْقِلُونَ، وَهُوَ مَا حَلَّ بِآلِهَتِهِمُ الَّتِي كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَهَا، فَلَوْ كَانَتْ آلِهَةً لَدَفَعَتْ عَنْ أَنْفُسِهَا مَنْ أَرَادَهَا بِسُوءٍ لَكِنَّهُمْ قَالُوا مِنْ جَهْلِهِمْ، وَقِلَّةِ عَقْلِهِمْ، وَكَثْرَةِ ضَلَالِهِمْ، وَخَبَالِهِمْ: مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ. أَيْ يَذْكُرُهَا بِالْعَيْبِ، وَالتَّنَقُّصِ لَهَا، وَالِازْدِرَاءِ بِهَا فَهُوَ الْمُقِيمُ عَلَيْهَا، وَالْكَاسِرُ لَهَا، وَعَلَى قَوْلِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ أَيْ يَذْكُرُهُمْ بِقَوْلِهِ: وَتَاللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصْنَامَكُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا مُدْبِرِينَ. قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَى أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ. أَيْ فِي الْمَلَأِ الْأَكْبَرِ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْأَشْهَادِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ مَقَالَتَهُ، وَيَسْمَعُونَ كَلَامَهُ، وَيُعَايِنُونَ مَا يَحِلُّ بِهِ مِنَ الِاقْتِصَاصِ مِنْهُ، وَكَانَ هَذَا أَكْبَرَ مَقَاصِدِ الْخَلِيلِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنْ يَجْتَمِعَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ فَيُقِيمَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ عُبَّادِ الْأَصْنَامِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَى بُطْلَانِ مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ، كَمَا قَالَ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِفِرْعَوْنَ: مَوْعِدُكُمْ يَوْمُ الزِّينَةِ وَأَنْ يُحْشَرَ النَّاسُ ضُحًى. فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا وَجَاءُوا بِهِ. كَمَا ذَكَرُوا: قَالُوا أَأَنْتَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَذَا. قِيلَ: مَعْنَاهُ هُوَ الْحَامِلُ لِي عَلَى تَكْسِيرِهَا، وَإِنَّمَا عَرَّضَ لَهُمْ فِي الْقَوْلِ فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِنْ كَانُوا يَنْطِقُونَ. وَإِنَّمَا أَرَادَ بِقَوْلِهِ هَذَا أَنْ يُبَادِرُوا إِلَى الْقَوْلِ أَنَّ هَذِهِ لَا تَنْطِقُ فَيَعْتَرِفُوا بِأَنَّهَا جَمَادٌ كَسَائِرِ الْجَمَادَاتِ فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ. أَيْ فَعَادُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِالْمَلَامَةِ فَقَالُوا: إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ. أَيْ فِي تَرْكِهَا لَا حَافِظَ لَهَا، وَلَا حَارِسَ عِنْدَهَا ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمْ. قَالَ السُّدِّيُّ: أَيْ ثُمَّ رَجَعُوا إِلَى الْفِتْنَةِ فَعَلَى هَذَا يَكُونُ قَوْلُهُ: إِنَّكُمْ أَنْتُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ. أَيْ فِي عِبَادَتِهَا. وَقَالَ قَتَادَةُ أَدْرَكَتِ الْقَوْمَ حَيْرَةُ سَوْءٍ أَيْ فَأَطْرَقُوا، ثُمَّ قَالُوا: لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا هَؤُلَاءِ يَنْطِقُونَ. أَيْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَنَّ هَذِهِ لَا تَنْطِقُ فَكَيْفَ تَأْمُرُنَا بِسُؤَالِهَا فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَهُمُ الْخَلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ أُفٍّ لَكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ. كَمَا قَالَ: فَأَقْبَلُوا إِلَيْهِ يَزِفُّونَ. قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ: يُسْرِعُونَ. قَالَ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مَا تَنْحِتُونَ. أَيْ كَيْفَ تَعْبُدُونَ أَصْنَامًا أَنْتُمْ تَنْحِتُونَهَا مِنَ الْخَشَبِ وَالْحِجَارَةِ، وَتُصَوِّرُونَهَا وَتُشَكِّلُونَهَا كَمَا تُرِيدُونَ وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ؟ وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ مَا مَصْدَرِيَّةً أَوْ بِمَعْنَى الَّذِي فَمُقْتَضَى الْكَلَامِ أَنَّكُمْ مَخْلُوقُونَ وَهَذِهِ الْأَصْنَامَ مَخْلُوقَةٌ، فَكَيْفَ يَعْبُدُ مَخْلُوقٌ مَخْلُوقًا مِثْلَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِبَادَتُكُمْ لَهَا بِأَوْلَى مِنْ عِبَادَتِهَا لَكُمْ، وَهَذَا بَاطِلٌ فَالْآخَرُ بَاطِلٌ لِلتَّحَكُّمِ؛ إِذْ لَيْسَتِ الْعِبَادَةُ تَصْلُحُ وَلَا تَجِبُ إِلَّا لِلْخَالِقِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ.
Translation
✧ The Most High mentioned his debate with his people and his call to them to abandon what they were upon and his command to them to worship Allah the Most High. Thus the Most High said: “And thus did We show Ibrāhīm the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and so that he might be of those who are certain. When the night grew dark upon him, he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘I do not love those that set.’ When he saw the moon rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘If my Lord does not guide me, I will surely be among the people who go astray.’ When he saw the sun rising, he said, ‘This is my Lord; this is greater.’ But when it set, he said, ‘O my people, I am free from what you associate. I have turned my face to Him who originated the heavens and the earth, as a ḥanīf, and I am not of the associators.’ And his people argued with him. He said, ‘Do you argue with me about Allah while He has guided me? I do not fear what you associate with Him, except that my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge. Will you not take heed? How should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? Which of the two parties has more right to security, if you know?’ Those who have believed and have not mixed their faith with wrongdoing—those will have security, and they are guided. And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrāhīm against his people. We raise in degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise, Knowing” [al-Anʿām: 75–83]. This is the station of debating with his people and clarifying to them that these observed celestial bodies of shining stars are not fit for divinity, nor to be worshipped alongside Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because they are created, lorded over, made, managed, subjugated; they rise at one time and set at another, so they disappear from this world, while the Lord, the Most High, nothing is absent from Him and nothing hidden is concealed from Him. Rather, He is the Everlasting, the Remaining without cessation; there is no god but He and no lord besides Him. He first clarified to them the unfitness of the star—it is said it was Venus—for that, then he ascended from it to the moon, which is brighter than it and more radiant in beauty, then he ascended to the sun, which is the most intense of the observed celestial bodies in light, splendor, and brilliance. He showed that they are subjugated, set in motion, determined, and lorded over, as the Most High said: “And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them, if it is Him you worship” [Fuṣṣilat: 37]. Thus He said: “When he saw the sun rising,” that is, appearing, “he said, ‘This is my Lord; this is greater.’ But when it set, he said, ‘O my people, I am free from what you associate. I have turned my face to Him who originated the heavens and the earth, as a ḥanīf, and I am not of the associators.’ And his people argued with him. He said, ‘Do you argue with me about Allah while He has guided me? I do not fear what you associate with Him, except that my Lord should will something.’” That is, I do not care about these gods that you worship besides Allah, for they do not benefit anything, do not hear, and do not understand. Rather, they are lorded over, subjugated like the stars and the like, or made, carved, and hewn. The apparent meaning is that this admonition of his concerning the stars was to the people of Ḥarrān, for they used to worship them. This refutes the claim of those who alleged that he said this when he came out of the underground hiding place as a child, as Ibn Isḥāq and others mentioned, and that rests on Israelite reports that are not reliable, especially when they contradict the truth. As for the people of Bābil, they used to worship idols, and they are the ones with whom he debated concerning worshipping them, and he broke them against them, humiliated them, and made clear their falsehood. Ibrāhīm’s Denial of His People’s Worship of Idols: As the Most High said: “And he said, ‘You have only taken idols besides Allah out of affection among yourselves in the life of this world. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another, and your abode will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers’” [al-ʿAnkabūt: 25]. And He said in Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ: “And We had given Ibrāhīm his right guidance before, and We were knowing of him. When he said to his father and his people, ‘What are these statues to which you are devoted?’ They said, ‘We found our fathers worshipping them.’ He said, ‘You and your fathers have been in clear error.’ They said, ‘Have you come to us with the truth, or are you among those who jest?’ He said, ‘Rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who originated them, and I am of those who testify to that. And by Allah, I will surely scheme against your idols after you turn away.’ So he made them into fragments, except a large one of theirs, so that they might return to it. They said, ‘Who did this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers.’ They said, ‘We heard a young man mention them; he is called Ibrāhīm.’ They said, ‘Then bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they might bear witness.’ They said, ‘Was it you who did this to our gods, O Ibrāhīm?’ He said, ‘Rather, this large one of theirs did it. Ask them, if they can speak.’ So they turned to themselves and said, ‘Indeed, you are the wrongdoers.’ Then they were turned upside down on their heads: ‘You know that these do not speak.’ He said, ‘Do you then worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all and does not harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship besides Allah. Will you not use reason?’ They said, ‘Burn him and support your gods, if you are to act.’ We said, ‘O fire, be coolness and peace upon Ibrāhīm.’ And they intended a plot against him, but We made them the greatest losers” [al-Anbiyāʾ: 51–70]. And He said in Sūrat al-Shuʿarāʾ: “And recite to them the news of Ibrāhīm, when he said to his father and his people, ‘What do you worship?’ They said, ‘We worship idols, and we remain devoted to them.’ He said, ‘Do they hear you when you call, or benefit you or harm you?’ They said, ‘Rather, we found our fathers doing so.’ He said, ‘Have you seen what you have been worshipping, you and your ancient fathers? Indeed, they are an enemy to me, except the Lord of the worlds, who created me, and He guides me, and it is He who feeds me and gives me drink, and when I am ill, He heals me, and who will cause me to die and then bring me to life, and who I hope will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense. My Lord, grant me judgment and join me with the righteous’” [al-Shuʿarāʾ: 69–83]. And the Most High said in Sūrat al-Ṣāffāt: “And indeed, among his party was Ibrāhīm, when he came to his Lord with a sound heart, when he said to his father and his people, ‘What do you worship? Is it falsehood—gods besides Allah—that you desire? Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?’ Then he cast a glance at the stars and said, ‘Indeed, I am ill.’ So they turned away from him, departing. Then he withdrew to their gods and said, ‘Will you not eat? What is with you that you do not speak?’ Then he turned upon them, striking with the right hand. Then they came to him, hurrying. He said, ‘Do you worship what you carve, while Allah created you and what you make?’ They said, ‘Build for him a structure and cast him into the blazing fire.’ And they intended a plot against him, but We made them the lowest” [al-Ṣāffāt: 83–98]. Allah the Most High informs about Ibrāhīm, His intimate friend ﷺ, that he denied his people’s worship of idols, belittled them before them, made them small, and disparaged them. He said: “What are these statues to which you are devoted?” That is, remaining devoted before them and submitting to them. They said, “We found our fathers worshipping them.” Their only argument was the practice of the fathers and forefathers and what they were upon of worshipping rivals. He said, “You and your fathers have been in clear error,” as the Most High said: “When he said to his father and his people, ‘What do you worship? Is it falsehood—gods besides Allah—that you desire? Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?’” Qatādah said: What do you think He will do with you when you meet Him, having worshipped other than Him? And he said to them: “Do they hear you when you call, or benefit you or harm you? They said, ‘Rather, we found our fathers doing so.’” They conceded to him that these do not hear a caller, do not benefit, and do not harm at all; the only thing that carried them to worship them was imitation of their predecessors and those like them in error among the ignorant fathers. For this reason he said to them: “Have you seen what you have been worshipping, you and your ancient fathers? Indeed, they are an enemy to me, except the Lord of the worlds.” This is a decisive proof of the falsehood of the divinity of what they claimed of idols, because he disavowed them and disparaged them. If they could harm, they would have harmed him; if they could have effect, they would have affected him. They said, “Have you come to us with the truth, or are you among those who jest?” They were saying: This speech that you say to us, and by which you disparage our gods and attack our fathers—do you say it in truth and seriousness, or jesting? He said: “Rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who originated them, and I am of those who testify to that.” That is, rather I say this to you in seriousness and truth. Your God is Allah, who is with no god but He, your Lord and Lord of every thing, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Creator of them without any previous pattern, so He alone is deserving of worship, with no partner, and I am of those who testify to that. And His saying: “And by Allah, I will surely scheme against your idols after you turn away.” He swore that he would surely scheme against these idols that they worshipped after they turned away going to their festival. It is said that he said this secretly in himself. Ibn Masʿūd said: Some of them heard it. They had a festival to which they would go once every year to the outskirts of the town. His father invited him to attend it, so he said: “Indeed, I am ill,” as the Most High said: “Then he cast a glance at the stars and said, ‘Indeed, I am ill.’” He made an allusion to them in speech until he reached his goal of humiliating their idols and supporting the true religion of Allah in the falsehood of what they were upon of worshipping idols that deserved to be broken and humiliated in the utmost humiliation. So when they went out to their festival and he remained in their town, “he withdrew to their gods,” that is, he went to them quickly and secretly. He found them in a great hall, and they had placed before them various kinds of food as offerings to them. He said to them in the manner of mockery and contempt: “Will you not eat? What is with you that you do not speak? Then he turned upon them, striking with the right hand,” because it is stronger, more forceful, faster, and more overpowering. He broke them with an adze in his hand, as the Most High said: “So he made them into fragments,” that is, broken pieces; he broke all of them, “except a large one of theirs, so that they might return to it.” It is said that he placed the adze in the hand of the large one, as an indication that it was jealous that these small ones should be worshipped alongside it. So when they returned from their festival and found what had befallen their object of worship, they said, “Who did this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers.” In this there is a clear proof for them, if only they understood: that which befell their gods that they used to worship. If they had been gods, they would have defended themselves from anyone who intended them harm. But they said out of their ignorance, lack of intellect, abundant error, and confusion: “Who did this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers.” They said, “We heard a young man mention them; he is called Ibrāhīm.” That is, he mentioned them with fault, disparagement of them, and contempt for them, so he is the one who stayed behind and broke them. According to Ibn Masʿūd, that is, he mentioned them by his saying: “And by Allah, I will surely scheme against your idols after you turn away.” They said, “Then bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they might bear witness.” That is, in the great assembly before the witnesses, so that they might witness his statement, hear his words, and see what befalls him of retribution. This was among the greatest purposes of the intimate friend ﷺ: that all the people should gather and he would establish the proof against all worshippers of idols of the falsehood of what they were upon, as Mūsā ﷺ said to Firʿawn: “Your appointment is the day of adornment, and that the people be gathered at forenoon.” So when they gathered and brought him, as they mentioned, they said, “Was it you who did this to our gods, O Ibrāhīm?” He said, “Rather, this large one of theirs did it.” It is said that its meaning is: He is the one who incited me to break them. He made an allusion to them in speech: “Ask them, if they can speak.” He only intended by this saying that they should hasten to say that these do not speak, so that they would admit that they are inanimate like other inanimate things. “So they turned to themselves and said, ‘Indeed, you are the wrongdoers.’” That is, they turned back upon themselves with blame and said: “Indeed, you are the wrongdoers,” that is, in leaving them without any guardian or guard. “Then they were turned upside down on their heads.” Al-Suddī said: That is, then they returned to tribulation. On this reading his saying “Indeed, you are the wrongdoers” means in worshipping them. Qatādah said: The people were overtaken by terrible confusion, that is, they bowed their heads, then they said: “You know that these do not speak.” That is, you know, O Ibrāhīm, that these do not speak, so how can you command us to ask them? At that point the intimate friend ﷺ said to them: “Do you then worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all and does not harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship besides Allah. Will you not use reason?” As He said: “Then they came to him, hurrying.” Mujāhid said: Rushing. He said, “Do you worship what you carve?” That is, how can you worship idols that you carve from wood and stone, and that you shape and form as you wish, “while Allah created you and what you make?” Whether mā is a gerundival particle or with the meaning of “that which,” the implication of the speech is that you are created and these idols are created. How can a created being worship a created being like itself? Indeed, your worshipping them is no more entitled than their worshipping you, and this is false, so the other is false by arbitrary judgment, because worship is not suitable and is not obligatory except for the Creator alone, with no partner.
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