Abraham’s people were different in respect to their faith. Some of them were astrologers; they were classified into groups, some were planets’ worshippers, others were moon’s worshippers or sun and stars’ worshippers. Abraham wanted to show up his astrologers’ people that they were wrong in their belief.
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It should be emphasized that Abraham’s people were different in respect to their faith; some of them worshipped idols.
Some of them were astrologers; they were classified into groups, some were planets’ worshippers, others were moon’s worshippers or sun and stars’ worshippers.
Abraham wanted to show up his astrologers’ people that they were wrong in their belief.
Ayah 6:76 narrates the first indirect teaching of Abraham
When night descended and darkened, upon him he beheld the planet Venus and said to his people, who were astrologers: ‘This is my Lord’, as you [were wont to] claim. But when it set, and disappewered, he said: “I do not love to take as lord that which set and disappewered because it is not possible for a true Lord to be transformed or to change place and disappear; I do not love a lord that is not lasting”
The whole of this speech is a form of allusion for the benefit of his people when their hearts were in a state of bewilderment; it is a form of indirect teaching that they were wrong but this had no effect on them. This was the first Abraham’s indirect teaching to the group of his astrologers’ people who were planets’ worshippers.
Ayah 6:77 narrates the second indirect teaching of Abraham
Then Abraham went to the group of his astrologers’ people who were the moon’s worshippers.
And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: This is my Lord. This is bigger than Venus. But when it set, he said: I do not love to take as lord that which set and disappewered; I do not love a lord that is not lasting; o people, unless my Lord guide me and makes me firm on guidance, I surely shall become one of the folk who were astray from knowing the True faith. This was intimation to his people who were astray, but still this had no effect on them.
This was the second Abraham’s indirect teaching to the group of his astrologers’ people who were the moon’s worshippers.
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The verses 6:76-77 in different translations
QARIB:
76) When night drew over him, he saw a planet. ‘This, ‘ he said: ‘is surely my lord. ‘But when it set he said: ‘i do not like the setting ones. ‘
77) When he saw the rising moon, he said: ‘this is my lord. ‘But when it set, he said: ‘if my lord does not guide me, i shall surely be amongst the astray nation. ‘
SHAKIR:
76) So when the night over-shadowed him, he saw a star; said he: is this my lord? so when it set, he said: i do not love the setting ones
77) Then when he saw the moon rising, he said: is this my lord? so when it set, he said: if my lord had not guided me i should certainly be of the erring people
PICKTHAL:
76) When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star. he said: this is my lord. but when it set, he said: i love not things that set.
77) And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: this is my lord. but when it set, he said: unless my lord guide me, i surely shall become one of the folk who were astray.
YUSUFALI:
76) When the night covered him over, he saw a star: he said: “this is my lord.” but when it set, he said: “i love not those that set.”
77) When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: “this is my lord.” but when the moon set, he said: “unless my lord guide me, i shall surely be among those who go astray.”
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