the polytheists.—And his people argued with him; [but] he said, Do ye argue with me respecting God, when He hath directed me, and I fear not what ye associate with Him, unless my Lord will _that_ aught _displeasing should befall me_? My Lord comprehendeth everything by _His_ knowledge. Will ye not therefore consider? And wherefore should I fear what ye have associated _with God_, when ye fear not for your having associated with God that of which He hath not sent down unto you a proof? Then which of the two parties is the more worthy of safety? _Are we, or you?_ If ye know _who is the more worthy of it, follow him_.—_God saith_, They who have believed, and not mixed their belief with injustice (_that is, polytheism_), for these shall be safety _from punishment_, and they are rightly directed. (vi. 74-82.) Relate _unto them_, in the book (_that is, the Ḳur-án_), _the history of_ Abraham. Verily he was a person of great veracity, a prophet. When he said unto his father _A´zar, who worshipped idols_, O my father, wherefore dost thou worship that which heareth not, nor seeth, nor averteth from thee aught, _whether of advantage or of injury_? O my father, verily [a degree] of knowledge hath come unto me, that hath not come unto thee: therefore follow me: I will direct thee into a right way. O my father, serve not the devil, _by obeying him in serving idols_; for the devil is very rebellious unto the Compassionate. O my father, verily I fear that a punishment will betide thee from the Compassionate, _if thou repent not_, and that thou wilt be unto the devil an aider, _and a companion in hell-fire_.—He replied, Art thou a rejector of my Gods, O Abraham, _and dost thou revile them_? If thou abstain not, I will assuredly assail thee _with stones or with ill words; therefore beware of me_, and leave me for a long time.—_Abraham_ said, Peace _from me_ be on thee! I will ask pardon for thee of my Lord; for He is gracious unto me: and I will separate myself from you and from what ye invoke instead of God; and I will call upon my Lord: perhaps I shall not be unsuccessful in calling upon my Lord, _as ye are in calling upon idols_.—And when he had separated himself from them, and from what they worshipped instead of God, _by going to the Holy Land_, We gave him _two sons, that he might cheer himself thereby, namely_, Isaac and Jacob; and each [of them] We made a prophet; and We bestowed upon them (_namely, the three_), of our mercy, _wealth and children_; and We caused them to receive high commendation. (xix. 42-51.)