We should contemplate these verses where Allah (Glorified be He) enlightens them that these idols are not fit for `Ibadah (worship), for they do not hear nor answer supplications; they do not benefit nor harm. They are just inanimate objects that can never feel the need of those who supplicate to them nor meet their necessities. So how can anyone be supplicated to other than Allah! Accordingly, Allah (Glorified be He)
says: Do they hear you, when you call on (them)? "Or do they benefit you or do they harm (you)?" What was their answer?
They were consigned to confusion and evaded the answer, for they knew that those idols could never benefit nor harm and could never hear supplications nor respond to them.
Therefore, they said: (Nay) but we found our fathers doing so. They did not say that they hear, benefit, or harm. Their reply expressed their doubt and confusion when they confessed that these idols were not fit to be worshiped. They said: (Nay) but we found our fathers doing so. i.e. they just followed, blindly and thoughtlessly, in the footsteps of their forefathers.
This is the meaning of His Saying in another Ayah, We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps. This was their damned and evil way of argument. We ask Allah to grant us safety.
Then, Ibrahim AlKhalil (peace be upon him) said: He said: "Do you observe that which you have been worshipping "You and your ancient fathers? "Verily they are enemies to me, save the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists),
referring to their worshiped idols.
Therefore, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: "Verily they are enemies to me, save the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists), "...except the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)" means that he (peace be upon him) knew that they worshiped Allah and other idols as well, hence, he excluded Allah; the Lord of the 'Alamîn.
Likewise, in another Ayah, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: Except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allâh Alone) Who did create me Thus, he knew that the Mushriks worshiped Allah and others. However, the dispute among them and the messengers concerns devoting `Ibadah to Allah and singling Him out with it other than anything else.
Describing the Attributes of the Lord, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: "Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me. "And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink. "And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. "And Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me to life (again).
Such are the acts of the Lord (may He be Exalted and Glorified); He heals the patients, gives life and death, feeds, waters and guides whoever He wishes. He is the Creator Who is Able to forgive all sins and conceal all faults. Therefore, He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) deserves `Ibadah from His Servants. Thus, offering `Ibadah to anything other than Him is not valid, for they do not create, sustain, benefit, nor harm. They do not know the unseen and could never provide useful or harmful things to their supplicants. Allah (Glorified be He) says:
Such is Allâh, your Lord; His is the kingdom. And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmîr (the thin membrane over the datestone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them.
He (Glorified be He) points out incapacity of the worshiped objects and that invoking them besides Allah is considered Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Therefore, He (Glorified be He) says: And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them. He (Glorified be He) points out that all idols are incapable and whoever supplicates to them commits Shirk.
He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) says: "And Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense, (the Day of Resurrection). meaning: I hope He (Glorified be He) would forgive my sins on the Day of Resurrection,
for it is He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) Who benefits in the worldly life and saves in the Hereafter; but these idols neither benefit in the worldly life nor in the Hereafter. Rather they harm, so that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: "And Who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of Recompense, (the Day of Resurrection). My Lord! Bestow Hukm (religious knowledge, right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) on me, and join me with the righteous. And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight. And grant me an honourable mention in later generations.
All these manifestations indicate that he believed and called people to believe in the Hereafter, which they would meet inevitably, where there is reward and reckoning. After that, he said: And make me one of the inheritors of the Paradise of Delight. And forgive my father, verily he is of the erring. He supplicated to Allah to forgive his father before knowing his stand. Upon knowing his case, Ibrahim renounced his father as stated in Surah Al`Ankabut where Allah (Glorified be He) says:
And (remember) Ibrâhîm (Abraham) when he said to his people: "Worship Allâh (Alone), and fear Him: that is better for you if you did but know. "You worship besides Allâh only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allâh have no power to give you provision: so seek your provision from Allâh (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) indicates that `Ibadah is Allah's Right; He (may He be Exalted and Glorified) should be feared and worshiped. The practice of his people was a baseless lie, since their idols never gave them provisions, benefit, or harm. Allah (may He be Exalted and Glorified) Alone is the Provider, so He said: so seek your provision from Allâh (Alone), and worship