Surah As-Saffat — Verse 85

Word Meanings:

• "إِذْ قَالَ" (When he said): Refers to the time when Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) addressed his father and people.
• "لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ" (To his father and his people): His father was Azar, a idol-maker and worshipper of idols, and his people were the polytheists of Babylon.
• "مَاذَا تَعْبُدُونَ" (What do you worship?): A rhetorical question of rebuke and disapproval, meaning: "What are these things you worship besides Allah?"

Explanation of the Verse:

This verse takes us back to the noble Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), who is described in the preceding verses as one of the followers of Prophet Nuh (Noah) in faith and monotheism. Ibrahim came to his Lord with a heart free from all false beliefs and blameworthy character—a heart purified from idolatry, hypocrisy, and every form of spiritual corruption.

When Ibrahim reached the age of reasoning and prophethood, he stood before his father Azar and his people with courage and wisdom, rebuking them for their misguided worship. He asked them: "What are you worshipping?"—a question meant to make them reflect on the absurdity of their actions. They were worshipping idols of stone and wood that could neither hear, nor see, nor benefit, nor harm anyone. These were mere creations of their own hands, yet they abandoned the worship of Allah—the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Only One deserving of worship.

This question was not asked out of ignorance, but as a powerful rhetorical device to awaken their minds and challenge their blind following of ancestral traditions. Ibrahim wanted them to pause and think: What are these objects you bow before? What have they done for you? Can they provide for you? Can they protect you? Can they forgive your sins?

The verse carries a timeless lesson for all of humanity: we must constantly question our beliefs and practices, and ensure that our worship is directed solely to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Ibrahim's approach teaches us the importance of gentle yet firm da'wah (calling to Islam)—starting with the closest relatives, using wisdom and logical reasoning, and never compromising on the core message of Tawheed (monotheism).

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, look at the courage of Ibrahim—a single man standing against an entire society entrenched in idolatry. He did not fear their numbers or their power. His heart was filled with certainty in Allah, and his tongue spoke the truth without hesitation. This is the spirit every Muslim should embody: to call others to the worship of Allah alone, with wisdom, patience, and unwavering conviction.

The question Ibrahim posed to his people is the same question every soul must answer: What do you worship? Is it wealth, status, desires, or the creations of Allah? Or is it Allah alone—the Most Merciful, the Provider, the Sustainer of all existence? When you purify your worship for Allah alone, you find true peace, purpose, and success in this life and the Hereafter. Let Ibrahim's example inspire you to examine your own heart and to invite others to this beautiful truth with love and wisdom.