وَقالوا لَو شاءَ الرَّحمـٰنُ ما عَبَدناهُم ۗ ما لَهُم بِذٰلِكَ مِن عِلمٍ ۖ إِن هُم إِلّا يَخرُصونَ

They assert, “If the Merciful had willed, we wouldn’t have worshiped them.” They don’t know this; they are only speculating.

أَم آتَيناهُم كِتابًا مِن قَبلِهِ فَهُم بِهِ مُستَمسِكونَ

Or did We give them a scripture before this one to which they are adhering?

بَل قالوا إِنّا وَجَدنا آباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِم مُهتَدونَ

But they say, “We found our ancestors upon a course, and we are guided by their footsteps.”

وَكَذٰلِكَ ما أَرسَلنا مِن قَبلِكَ في قَريَةٍ مِن نَذيرٍ إِلّا قالَ مُترَفوها إِنّا وَجَدنا آباءَنا عَلىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنّا عَلىٰ آثارِهِم مُقتَدونَ

Likewise, whenever We sent a warner before you to any city, its affluent inhabitants said, “We found our forefathers following a path, and we are following in their footsteps.”

قالَ أَوَلَو جِئتُكُم بِأَهدىٰ مِمّا وَجَدتُم عَلَيهِ آباءَكُم ۖ قالوا إِنّا بِما أُرسِلتُم بِهِ كافِرونَ

He would say, “Even if I bring you better guidance than what you found your forefathers following?” They would reply, “We reject what you’ve been sent with.”

وَإِذ قالَ إِبراهيمُ لِأَبيهِ وَقَومِهِ إِنَّني بَراءٌ مِمّا تَعبُدونَ

Abraham told his father and his people, “I am free from what you worship.

إِلَّا الَّذي فَطَرَني فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهدينِ

Only He who created me will guide me.”

وَجَعَلَها كَلِمَةً باقِيَةً في عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُم يَرجِعونَ

He left this a lasting word among his descendants, so they might return.

بَل مَتَّعتُ هـٰؤُلاءِ وَآباءَهُم حَتّىٰ جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ وَرَسولٌ مُبينٌ

I allowed these and their ancestors some enjoyment, until the truth arrived with a transparent messenger.

وَلَمّا جاءَهُمُ الحَقُّ قالوا هـٰذا سِحرٌ وَإِنّا بِهِ كافِرونَ

However, when the truth came to them, they said, “This is sorcery, and we disbelieve it.”