Surah 29

Surah 29:25

"And he said, ‘Instead of God, you have only taken idols (in a bond of) friendship among you in this present life. Then on the Day of Resurrection some of you will deny others, and some will curse others, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers.’"
The Response of Ibrahim's People - and how Allah controlled the Fire Verses 29:24-25
Show Full Scripture Context (29:24-25) — 2 Verses
Verse 24

فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُواْ ٱقۡتُلُوهُ أَوۡ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ

But the only response of his people was that they said, ‘Kill him, or burn him!’ And then God rescued him from the fire. Surely in that are signs indeed for a people who believe.

Verse 25

وَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ٱتَّخَذۡتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡثَٰنٗا مَّوَدَّةَ بَيۡنِكُمۡ فِي ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ يَكۡفُرُ بَعۡضُكُم بِبَعۡضٖ وَيَلۡعَنُ بَعۡضُكُم بَعۡضٗا وَمَأۡوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن نَّـٰصِرِينَ

And he said, ‘Instead of God, you have only taken idols (in a bond of) friendship among you in this present life. Then on the Day of Resurrection some of you will deny others, and some will curse others, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will have no helpers.’

Allah tells us how Ibrahim's people stubbornly and arrogantly disbelieved, and how they resisted the truth with falsehood. After Ibrahim addressed them with his words of clear guidance,

Quoted Scripture
"except that they said: "Kill him or burn him.""

This was because proof had clearly been established against them, so they resorted to using their power and strength.

{They said: "Build for him a building and throw him into the blazing fire!" So they plotted a plot against him, but We made them the lowest.} (37:97-98).

They spent a long time gathering a huge amount of firewood, they built a fence around it, then they set it ablaze until its flames reached up to the sky. No greater fire had ever been lit. Then they went to Ibrahim, seized him and put him into a catapult, then they threw him into the fire. But Allah made it cool and safe for him, and after spending several days in it, he emerged unscathed. For this reason and others, Allah made him an Imam for mankind, for he offered himself to the Most Merciful, he offered his body to the flames, he offered his son as a sacrifice, and he gave his wealth to care for his guests. For all of these reasons he is beloved by the followers of all religions.

{Then Allah saved him from the fire.} means, He rescued him from it by making it cool and safe for him.

Quoted Scripture
"Verily, in this are indeed signs for a people who believe."

Ibrahim, peace be upon him, explains to his people that idols are incapable of doing anything,

Quoted Scripture
"And (Ibrahim) said: "You have taken idols instead of Allah. The love between you is only in the life of this world,"

Here Ibrahim was rebuking his people for their evil deed of worshipping idols, and telling them: 'You have taken these as gods and you come together to worship them so that there is friendship and love among you in this world,'

{but on the Day of Resurrection,} the situation will be the opposite, and this love and friendship will turn into hatred and enmity. Then

{you shall deny each other,} meaning, you will denounce one another and deny whatever was between you,'

{and curse each other,} means, the followers will curse their...

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.