Overall meaning : The Almighty says: When Abraham was brought before them, they disapprovingly asked him, ‘Was it you who broke our gods, Abraham?’ He said, exposing their foolishness, ‘It was the biggest idol that had broken them. Ask your alleged gods about that if they are able to speak!’
Thereupon they realised they had gone astray, for how could they worship such helpless idols that could not defend themselves or answer any questions?! They admitted their wrongdoing for worshipping them. Soon afterwards, however, they relapsed again into their stubbornness after having proved wrong and, persistently clinging to falsehood, they advanced an argument which gave Abraham a forceful argument against them. ‘How can we ask them,’ they protested, ‘when you know they cannot speak?’ Abraham replied, despising their idols, ‘How can you worship, instead of Allah, idols that can neither benefit you if you worship them, nor harm you if you leave them alone?! Shame on you and on your idols which you worship instead of Allah! Will you not use your intellect and realise your foolishness?’
Seeing that their argument was refuted and that the truth emerged, they resorted to brute force. ‘Burn Abraham,’ they cried, ‘and avenge your gods, if you are willing to support them.’ They lit a great fire and threw him into it, but Allah Almighty granted His Messenger victory, and so He ordered the fire, saying, ‘Fire, be cool to Abraham and keep him safe.’ No harm befell Abraham at all. His people sought to harm Abraham, but Allah frustrated their evil scheme and made them the losers.