Overall meaning : Allah, Exalted be He, relates part of the story of Abraham, peace be upon him, saying: Recite to your people, Muhammad, the story of Abraham when he said to his father and his people, ‘What is it that you worship?’ They replied, ‘We worship idols, and we remain ever devoted to them.’ He asked, ‘Do your idols hear your supplication when you invoke them? Can they help you your enemies or do you any harm?’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘but we found our fathers worshiping them, and so we are following their example.’
Abraham said to them, ‘Do you see these idols that you and your ancestors have been worshipping? They are all my enemies, except for the Lord of all the worlds, who has created me, and is the One who guides me. He is the One who provides me with food and drink; and when I am ill, He is the One who heals me; who alone will cause me to die and bring me back to life on the Day of Resurrection; and who, I hope, will forgive my faults on Judgement day.’
Then Abraham, peace be upon him, prayed to Allah, saying, ‘Lord, bestow knowledge and sound judgement upon me, and join me among the righteous. Grant me honourable mention among those who will come after me; and include me among those who will inherit the garden of eternal bliss. Forgive my father, for he is among those who have strayed from the path of truth; and do not disgrace when people will be resurrected for judgement—the day when neither wealth nor children will benefit anyone. Only those who come before Allah on that day with a pure heart that is free from unbelief, hypocrisy and ascribing partners to Allah.’