The Holy Quran 21:68 — Surah Al-Anbya

Arabic text

قَالُوا۟ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَـٰعِلِينَ

Translation

(Embarrassed and not knowing what to do,) They said (to save face), "Burn him and (thereby) assist (avenge) your gods if you will do so (if you want to do something)." (So they made a large fire which was so hot that none could approach it. They were then forced to catapult Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام into it).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The decision to burn Ibrahim ﵇ alive: that is, in debate and disputation we cannot beat him. Now there is only one way left: that we help them (the deities who cannot help us, nor even themselves) and give their enemy the severest punishment. If we cannot do this, then we have done nothing.

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