And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said to his father, Ȃzar, “Do you take idols as gods? It is clear to me that you and your people are entirely misguided.”

And mention in the Book ˹O Prophet, the story of˺ Abraham. He was surely a man of truth and a prophet. (41) ˹Remember˺ when he said to his father, “O dear father! Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all? (42) O  dear father! I have certainly received some knowledge which you have not received, so follow me and I will guide you to the Straight Path. (43) O  dear father! Do not worship Satan. Surely Satan is ever rebellious against the Most Compassionate. (44) O  dear father! I truly fear that you will be touched by a torment from the Most Compassionate, and become Satan’s companion ˹in Hell˺.” (45) He threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O  Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!” (46) Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me. (47) As I distance myself from ˹all of˺ you and from whatever you invoke besides Allah, I will ˹continue to˺ call upon my Lord ˹alone˺, trusting that I will never be disappointed in invoking my Lord.” (48)

˹Remember˺ when he questioned his father and his people, “What are these statues to which you are so devoted?” (52) They replied, “We found our forefathers worshipping them.” (53) He responded, “Indeed, you and your forefathers have been clearly astray.” (54) They asked, “Have you come to us with the truth, or is this a joke?” (55) He replied, “In fact, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them ˹both˺. And to that I bear witness.” (56) ˹Then he said to himself,˺ “By Allah! I will surely plot against your idols after you have turned your backs and gone away.” (57)

Relate to them ˹O Prophet˺ the story of Abraham, (69) when he questioned his father and his people, “What is that you worship ˹besides Allah˺?” (70) They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.” (71) Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them? (72) Or can they benefit or harm you?” (73) They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.” (74) Abraham responded, “Have you ˹really˺ considered what you have been worshipping— (75) you and your ancestors? (76) They are ˹all˺ enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds. (77)

“My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the righteous. (83) Bless me with honourable mention among later generations. (84) Make me one of those awarded the Garden of Bliss. (85) Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided. (86) And do not disgrace me on the Day all will be resurrected— (87) the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. (88) Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.”  (89)

As for Abraham’s prayer for his father’s forgiveness, it was only in fulfilment of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to Abraham that his father was an enemy of Allah, he broke ties with him. Abraham was truly tender-hearted, forbearing.

˹Remember, O  Prophet˺ when Abraham declared to his father and his people, “I am totally free of whatever ˹gods˺ you worship, (26) except the One Who originated me, and He will surely guide me.” (27) And he left this enduring declaration among his descendants, so they may ˹always˺ turn back ˹to Allah˺.  (28)

You already have an excellent example in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, “We totally dissociate ourselves from you and ˹shun˺ whatever ˹idols˺ you worship besides Allah. We reject you. The enmity and hatred that has arisen between us and you will last until you believe in Allah alone.” The only exception is when Abraham said to his father, “I will seek forgiveness for you,˹” adding, “but˺ I cannot protect you from Allah at all.” ˹The believers prayed,˺ “Our Lord! In You we trust. And to You we ˹always˺ turn. And to You is the final return.