Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 19:41–45
Mary (Maryam)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(41) Also recount the story of Abraham in the Book. He was a man of truth, and a prophet. (42) He said to his father, ‘Why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? (43) Father, I have been given some knowledge which has not come to you, so follow me: I shall guide you along a straight path. (44) Father! Do not worship Satan—for, truly, Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious One! (45) Father, indeed I fear lest a punishment from the Gracious One afflict you, and you become a friend of Satan.’
Commentary
(a) Abraham was born in Iraq. His father, Azar, was a polytheist. When Abraham received prophethood, he advised his father to give up polytheism and start worshipping God, or face God’s retribution.
Worship of Satan does not mean actually worshipping Satan himself, but worshipping something indicated by Satan. Although it is an inherent part of human nature to feel the need to glorify some being, place it in an elevated position and then bow down and pay homage to it, the real focus of such feelings should be and is God. But, Satan, by various methods, influences people and diverts their minds from this in order to make them worship things other than God, i.e. place them on a par with those who associate others with God and offer only to others what they should offer to God.