(Abraham: An Example)
A good example has been set for you by Abraham and those with him. They said to their people, “We disown you and the idols that you worship besides God. We denounce you, and you will see nothing from us except animosity and hatred until you believe in God ALONE.”* However, a mistake was committed by Abraham when he said to his father, “I will pray for your forgiveness,** but I possess no power to protect you from God.” “Our Lord, we trust in You, and submit to You; to You is the final destiny.
قَد كانَت لَكُم أُسوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فى إِبرٰهيمَ وَالَّذينَ مَعَهُ إِذ قالوا لِقَومِهِم إِنّا بُرَءٰؤُا۟ مِنكُم وَمِمّا تَعبُدونَ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ كَفَرنا بِكُم وَبَدا بَينَنا وَبَينَكُمُ العَدٰوَةُ وَالبَغضاءُ أَبَدًا حَتّىٰ تُؤمِنوا بِاللَّهِ وَحدَهُ إِلّا قَولَ إِبرٰهيمَ لِأَبيهِ لَأَستَغفِرَنَّ لَكَ وَما أَملِكُ لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِن شَىءٍ رَبَّنا عَلَيكَ تَوَكَّلنا وَإِلَيكَ أَنَبنا وَإِلَيكَ المَصيرُ
qad kaanat lakum uswatun hasanatun feee Ibraaheema wallazeena ma’ahoo iz qaaloo liqawmihim innaa bura ‘aaa’u minkum wa mimmaa ta’budoona min doonil laahi kafarnaa bikum wa badaa bainanaa wa bainakumul ‘adaawatu wal baghdaaa’u abadan hattaa tu’minoo billaahi wahdahooo illaa qawla Ibraheema li abeehi la astaghfiranna laka wa maaa amliku laka minal laahi min shai; rabbanaa ‘alaika tawakkalnaa wa ilaika anabnaa wa ilaikal maseer
*60:4 The Arabic word for “ALONE” (WAHDAHU) occurs only six times in the Quran, one of them refers to upholding the Quran ALONE (17:46). The reference to God ALONE occurs in 7:70, 39:45, 40:12 & 84, and 60:4. The sum of these numbers (7+70+39+45+40+ 12+84+60+4) equals 361, or 19×19. This emphasizes that the main theme of the Quran is “Worship God ALONE.” See Appendix 1.
**60:4 We can pray for guidance for the idolators, not forgiveness, since God’s law is that idolatry is the only unforgivable offense (4:48 & 116).