The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 781
PT. 23 AȘ-ṢĀFFĀT 89. Then he cast a glance at the stars, 3327 90. And said, 'I am indeed feeling unwell. '3328 91. So they went away from him turning their backs. 92. Then he went secretly to their gods and addressing them said, 'Will you not eat?3329 93. What is the matter with you that you speak not?' 3330 3327. Commentary: CH. 37 فَنَظَرَ نَظْرَةً فِي النُّجُوْمِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمُ فَتَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ مُدْبِرِينَ ) فَرَاغَ إِلَى الِهَتِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَنْطِقُونَ aside or away or he went this way or The verse seems to suggest that the that quickly and guilefully; he turned controversy between Abraham and his people about Divine attributes dragged on late into the night, and seeing that the talk served no useful purpose Abraham wanted to cut it short. So he cast a glance at the stars suggesting thereby that the talk had dragged on long and far into the night and it should better be stopped. 3328. Commentary: The verse may also suggest that Abraham was feeling unwell and in view of the useless nature of the talk that his people were having with him he wanted to avoid it. He therefore told them that they had better leave him alone as he was not feeling well. The words may also mean: "I am sick of your worshipping false gods," or "I am sorely distressed at heart because you worship false gods," or "I hate your worship of false gods. " 3329. Important Words: E✓ (went secretly) means, he turned 2695 aside to deceive him who was behind him. means, he went to such a ,means راغ عليه. one secretly he advanced towards him; he turned against him secretly (Aqrab & Lane). 3330. Commentary: At different places the Quran has pointed to one of the most distinctive attributes of a living God, viz. that He speaks to His chosen servants and listens to and answers their prayers. It is a dead and defunct deity, fit to be thrown away, that has not the power to speak or listen to and accept the prayers of his votaries. God has revealed Himself throughout the ages to His Elect through His actions and spoken word. Even now He has not ceased to reveal Himself and will never cease to do so. While rebuking the Israelites for taking the calf as their deity the Quran exposes the absurdity of their position in the words: "Did they not see that it spoke not to them nor guided them" (7:149). Again in 20:90 Moses is described as