The Quraysh, the major Arabian tribe living in Makkah at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an, used to say that they were Abraham’s descendants, which was true. They also claimed that they followed Abraham’s faith, which was untrue. Abraham (peace be upon him) espoused monotheism, clear and undistorted. It was for his belief in the One God that he abandoned his father and his people, after he was subjected to execution by burning. His religion is based on this basic belief. He urged his children and descendants to remain true to it. Thus, no trace of polytheism is ever found in his faith.

In this section of the surah the Arabs are made to see this historical fact so that they might check their claims against it. The surah also reports their objections to Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) message: “They also say, ‘Why was not this Qur’an revealed to some great man of the two cities?’” It shows the basic flaw in this argument: not only does it disregard the true values on which God wants human life to be based but it also espouses false values which turn them away from true guidance. Once the truth is outlined, the surah tells them of the fate of those who prefer to remain blind to God’s remembrance. It also explains why such a choice was made which boils down to nothing less than following what Satan whispers. At the end of this section, the surah consoles God’s Messenger, who is grieved by their choice. He is told that he cannot make the blind see nor the deaf hear. They will have their due requital, whether he lives to see how God punishes them or God chooses to delay such punishment. He is directed, therefore, to hold fast to what is revealed to him as it represents the truth preached by all former messengers.

“Abraham said to his father and his people: ‘I renounce what you worship, I worship none other than Him who brought me into being. It is He who will guide me.’ He made this an abiding precept among his descendants so that they might always return (to God).”

The precept of monotheism rejected by the Quraysh was nothing but the belief advocated by Abraham, from whom they descended. It was this great principle that Abraham declared to his own father and people, thus rejecting their false creed, disowning their traditional worship. He did not adopt falsehood simply because his father and people practised it. In fact, he did not pay them any courtesy when he declared his rejection of it in a clear and emphatic statement quoted in the Qur’an: “I renounce what you worship, I worship none other than Him who brought me into being. It is He who will guide me.”

It appears from Abraham’s statement that although his people did not deny God’s existence, they nonetheless assigned partners to Him and worshipped others beside Him. Therefore, Abraham disowned all those they worshipped other than God. He described God by His attribute that makes Him the One to be worshipped, which is the fact that He initiates and originates. It is He who deserves to be worshipped because He is the One who creates. He also stated his firm belief that God would give him guidance. He created him and He knew how to grant him guidance.

Abraham clearly stated this precept of God’s oneness to which the whole universe testifies. He said it and made it “an abiding precept among his descendants so that they might always return (to God).” It fell to Abraham to have the largest share in establishing this precept in life, delivering it to future generations through his seed. A number of his descendants were prophets and messengers, among whom three belong to the very select group of messengers endowed with the strongest resolve. These three are Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all.) Today, scores of centuries after Abraham, more than a billion people who follow the three divine religions are indebted to Abraham for their belief in the fundamental principle of God’s oneness. It was he who made it an abiding precept among his descendants. Many of them may abandon it, but it remains firm, clear and undistorted. Thus, people will always have a chance to return to God, their Creator, and worship Him. This represents a return to the truth, understanding it and holding firm to it.

Mankind knew the principle of God’s oneness before Abraham, through many prophets such as Noah, Hud, Salih and perhaps Idris, as also through other messengers who did not have a continuous line of descendants who could revive and advocate the principle. It was, therefore, with Abraham that this principle took firm root on earth. It continued to be advocated by his descendants, with a continuous line of prophethood, up to the last Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), who descended from Abraham through his son, Ishmael, and who bore the greatest similarity to him. Muhammad stated the principle of God’s oneness in its final and most comprehensive form, a form that influences every human activity and life concept.