Transliteration:( Faja'alahum juzaazan illaa kabeeral lahum la'allahum ilaihi yarji'oon )
"Then he broke them in to pieces [90], but the big one of them, so that they may ask to it something [91]."
This verse recounts the moment when Ibrahim (عليه السلام) executed his plan to expose the futility of idol worship.
Key context:
The people were celebrating an annual festival held in the jungle. They would return in the evening, first visiting their temple for worship before going home.
The day before the festival, they invited Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to join. He made an excuse and stayed behind in the city while they all left.
Taking advantage of their absence, he entered the temple and smashed all the idols, except the largest one.
He deliberately placed the axe on the shoulder of the biggest idol, to send a message.
This bold act was designed to provoke thought—he wanted the people to question their beliefs when they saw the state of their gods.
The phrase “so that they may ask to it something” has two interpretations:
They may ask the big idol who committed the act—highlighting the absurdity of expecting an inanimate object to speak.
They may come to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and inquire about the incident—thus opening the door to dialogue and da’wah.
In either case, it was a strategic gesture to expose the irrationality of idol worship and initiate a moment of reckoning for his people.
The tafsir of Surah Anbiya verse 58 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Anbiya ayat 57 which provides the complete commentary from verse 57 through 63.
(21:58) Then he broke them all into pieces,[57] sparing only the supreme one among them that they may possibly return to him.[58]
57. This was that practical proof. In the absence of the priests and attendants, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) entered their central Temple and broke all the idols to pieces.
58. The pronoun in the original text may be translated into it or him. In the former case, it will refer to the chief idol and in the latter to Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). In the first case, it will imply a subtle sarcasm in order to make them realize that their creed of idol worship was foolish, for obviously the chief idol could not break the minor idols. In the second case, it will refer to Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), who thought that they might turn to him about the incident and he might get an opportunity to have a frank talk with them about their absurd creed.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics