Verse 19:43 | inQuran

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

When he said to his father, ‘O my father, why dost thou worship that which hears not, nor sees, nor can avail thee aught?

English - Five Volume Translation

When he said to his father, [a]‘O my father, why dost thou worship that which neither hears nor sees, nor can avail thee aught?[2186]

6:76; 21:53; 26:71; 37:86-87.

Important Words:

اب (father) which originally was ابوmeans, a father; a grandfather; an ancestor; a paternal uncle. ابوالمرأة means, the woman’s husband. ابت in reality is ابی (my father). According to Arabic usage ی has been converted into ت (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The point whether Abraham’s اب (ab) whose name at another place in the Quran (6:75) has been given as Azar was his father, uncle or grandfather, is much in dispute. In 2:134 Ishmael who was Jacob’s uncle has been spoken of as his اب (ab). Whether Azar was Abraham’s father or uncle does not possess much significance. From a study of all relevant historical facts, however, we are inclined to the view that Azar was Abraham’s father, though according to some Talmudic traditions Abraham’s father had died while he was young and he was left an orphan.

In Genesis (11: 26) Abraham’s father’s name has been given as Terah while Luke (3: 34) gives it as Thara. The Talmud agrees with Luke and says that his name was Thara. It also gives his name as Zarah. Eusebius, the father of ecclesiastical history, however, gives Athar as the name of the great Patriarch’s father (Sale). This shows that even among the Jews there existed no unanimity of views as to the name of Abraham’s father. The fact that Eusebius followed neither Genesis (11: 26) nor (Luke 3: 34) indicates that he had very strong reasons to differ from these two well-known sources. The two names, Athar of Eusebius and Azar of the Quran closely resemble each other. The Quranic version is therefore much more reliable and akin to reality than that of the Bible. See also 6:75.

The attributes "All-Hearing" and "All-Seeing" are among the most important Divine attributes. It is our conviction that God sees us when we are in trouble and hears our prayers when we pray to Him which is really at the root of our belief in God. If once we cease to believe in these two attributes, we cease to believe in God. But these two attributes are here further complemented by a third—the attribute غنیwhich means, One Who has no need of others and is Self-Sufficient but Whose help others need and upon Whom they are dependent. If God is not غنی and cannot come to our help when we need it, then His attributes "All-Seeing" and "All-Hearing" are of no use. Abraham has indeed adduced a most convincing and unassailable argument against idol-worship, viz. if the idols do neither see when their votaries are in trouble, nor hear their prayers when they call on them, nor do they come to their help when they need it, then what sense or purpose there is in worshipping such useless things?

English - Short Commentary Translation

When he said to his father, [a]‘O my father, why dost thou worship that which neither hears nor sees, nor can avail thee aught?

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

جب اس نے اپنے باپ سے کہا اے میرے باپ! تو کیوں اس کی عبادت کرتا ہے جو نہ سنتا ہے اور نہ دیکھتا ہے اور تیرے کسی کام نہیں آتا۔

French

Quand il dit à son père : « Ô mon père, pourquoi adores-tu ce qui ni entend ni ne voit, et ne peut te profiter en rien ?

German

Da er zu seinem Vater sprach: "O mein Vater, warum verehrst du das, was nicht hört und nicht sieht und dir in nichts nützen kann?

Chinese

(你要回忆那个时候, 并向人们讲述:) 伊布拉欣对他的父亲说: [a]“我的父亲啊! 你为什么崇拜那些不能听、不能看, 而又对你毫无益处的东西?”

Italian

Quando disse a suo padre: «O padre mio, perché mai adori ciò che non sente e non vede e non può esserti di nessun aiuto?

Spanish

Cuando dijo a su padre: “Oh padre mío, ¿por qué adoras a lo que ni oye, ni ve, ni puede servirte de nada?”.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

(اور تو اس وقت کو بھی یاد کر۔ اور لوگوں کے سامنے بیان کر) جب ابراہیم نے اپنے باپ سے کہا تھا کہ اے میرے باپ! تو کیوں ان چیزوں کی پرستش کرتا ہے جو نہ سنتی ہیں نہ دیکھتی ہیں اور نہ تیری کسی تکلیف کو دور کرنے پر قادر ہیں۔

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

(انہیں ذرا اُس موقع کی یاد دلاؤ) جبکہ اُس نے اپنے باپ سے کہا کہ "ابّا جان، آپ کیوں اُن چیزوں کی عبادت کرتے ہیں جو نہ سنتی ہیں نہ دیکھتی ہیں اور نہ آپ کا کوئی کام بنا سکتی ہیں؟

English - Sahih

[Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

جب اپنے باپ سے کہا اے میرے باپ تو کیوں پوجتاہے ایسے کو جونہ سنتا ہے اور نہ دیکھتا ہے اور نہ تیرےکچھ کام آ سکے

English - Talal Itani

When he said to his father, "O my father! Why (do) you worship that which not hears and not sees and not benefits [to] you (in) anything?

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

6:75; 21:53; 26:71; 37:86, 87.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

English - Arberry

When he said to his father, 'Father, why worshippest thou that which neither hears nor sees, nor avails thee anything?

English - Maududi

(And remind people) when he said to his father: "Father! Why do you worship that which neither sees nor hears, and which can be of no avail to you?

English - Ahmed Ali

Remember, when he said to his father: "O my father, why do you worship that which can neither hear nor see nor even profit you the least?

English - Yusuf Ali

Behold, he said to his father: "O my father! why worship that which heareth not and seeth not, and can profit thee nothing?

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

6:76; 21:53; 26:71; 37:86-87.

2186

Important Words:

اب (father) which originally was ابوmeans, a father; a grandfather; an ancestor; a paternal uncle. ابوالمرأة means, the woman’s husband. ابت in reality is ابی (my father). According to Arabic usage ی has been converted into ت (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The point whether Abraham’s اب (ab) whose name at another place in the Quran (6:75) has been given as Azar was his father, uncle or grandfather, is much in dispute. In 2:134 Ishmael who was Jacob’s uncle has been spoken of as his اب (ab). Whether Azar was Abraham’s father or uncle does not possess much significance. From a study of all relevant historical facts, however, we are inclined to the view that Azar was Abraham’s father, though according to some Talmudic traditions Abraham’s father had died while he was young and he was left an orphan.

In Genesis (11: 26) Abraham’s father’s name has been given as Terah while Luke (3: 34) gives it as Thara. The Talmud agrees with Luke and says that his name was Thara. It also gives his name as Zarah. Eusebius, the father of ecclesiastical history, however, gives Athar as the name of the great Patriarch’s father (Sale). This shows that even among the Jews there existed no unanimity of views as to the name of Abraham’s father. The fact that Eusebius followed neither Genesis (11: 26) nor (Luke 3: 34) indicates that he had very strong reasons to differ from these two well-known sources. The two names, Athar of Eusebius and Azar of the Quran closely resemble each other. The Quranic version is therefore much more reliable and akin to reality than that of the Bible. See also 6:75.

The attributes "All-Hearing" and "All-Seeing" are among the most important Divine attributes. It is our conviction that God sees us when we are in trouble and hears our prayers when we pray to Him which is really at the root of our belief in God. If once we cease to believe in these two attributes, we cease to believe in God. But these two attributes are here further complemented by a third—the attribute غنیwhich means, One Who has no need of others and is Self-Sufficient but Whose help others need and upon Whom they are dependent. If God is not غنی and cannot come to our help when we need it, then His attributes "All-Seeing" and "All-Hearing" are of no use. Abraham has indeed adduced a most convincing and unassailable argument against idol-worship, viz. if the idols do neither see when their votaries are in trouble, nor hear their prayers when they call on them, nor do they come to their help when they need it, then what sense or purpose there is in worshipping such useless things?

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

6:75; 21:53; 26:71; 37:86, 87.

English - Pickthall

When he said unto his father: O my father! Why worshippest thou that which heareth not nor seeth, nor can in aught avail thee?

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

When he said to his sire: O my sire, why worshippest thou that which hears not, or sees, or can it avail thee aught?

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Call to mind when he said to his father: Father, wherefore dost thou worship that which hears not, nor sees, nor can avail thee aught?

Verse 43

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