Surah Al-Anbya, Ayah 51

And I granted Abraham proof against his people in his childhood, and I knew him well. I gave him the proof he deserved according to My knowledge.

And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim his guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (51)When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images to which you are devoted? (52)They said: "We found our fathers worshipping them. (53)He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error. (54)They said: "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who play about?? (55)He said: "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them and to that I am one of the witnesses. (56)

The Story of Ibrahim and his People

Allah tells us about His close Friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and how He bestowed upon him guidance aforetime, i.e., from an early age He inspired him with truth and evidence against his people, as Allah says elsewhere:

وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ

(And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people)[6:83]. The point here is that Allah is telling us that He gave guidance to Ibrahim aforetime, i.e., He had already guided him at an early age.

وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَالِمِينَ

(and We were Well-Acquainted with him.) means, and he was worthy of that. Then Allah says:

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَٰذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ

(When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?") This is the guidance which he had been given during his youth: his denunciation of his people's worship of idols instead of Allah. Ibrahim said:

مَا هَٰذِهِ التَّمَاثِيلُ الَّتِي أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَاكِفُونَ

("What are these images, to which you are devoted?") meaning, which you worship with such devotion.

قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ

(They said: "We found our fathers worshipping them.") means, they had no other evidence apart from the misguided actions of their forefathers. Ibrahim said:

لَقَدْ كُنتُمْ أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

(Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error.) meaning, Speaking to your fathers whose actions you cite as evidence would be the same as speaking to you. Both you and they are misguided and are not following any straight path.' When he called their intelligence into question, and said that their fathers were misguided and belittled their gods,

قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا بِالْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنتَ مِنَ اللَّاعِبِينَ

(They said: "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who play about?") They said: 'These words that you are saying, are you speaking in jest or are you telling the truth? For we have never heard such a thing before.'

قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ

(He said: "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them...") meaning, your Lord, beside Whom there is no other god, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth and all that they contain; He is the One Who initiated their creation; He is the Creator of all things.

وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

(and to that I am one of the witnesses.) means, and I bear witness that there is no God other than Him and no Lord except Him.