Prophet Ibrāhīm: Part 1 — Coolness and Safety, Hājar and Ismāʿīl
Section 9 of 25 · Lives of the Prophets
Do You Dispute With Me Concerning Allah?
The word muḥājjah, or ḥājjahu, means they debated with him. We find that this word was not used with any other prophet more than Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) in the Qur'an. Ibrāhīm was continuously in debates and dialogues with others about Islam. He made a debate and a dialogue with the king; he made a dialogue with his people; and over here he's making this debate and dialogue with the people of Ḥarrān.
وَحَآجَّهُۥ قَوْمُهُۥ ۚ قَالَ أَتُحَـٰٓجُّوٓنِّى فِى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنِ ۚ وَلَآ أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ رَبِّى شَيْـًٔا ۗ وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا ۗ أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَآ أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَـٰنًا ۚ فَأَىُّ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْأَمْنِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“His people argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me about Allah while He has already led me to the right path? I do not fear that which you associate with Him, (because it cannot harm me), unless, of course, something is willed by my Lord. My Lord encompasses everything with His knowledge. Would you, then, take no lesson? How can I fear that which you associate with Him, while you do not fear (the evil fate of) your having associated with Allah something for which He did not send down to you any authority? Now, which of the two parties has more right to be in peace? (Tell me) if you know.” (6:80–81)
Allah (swt) says: wa ḥājjahu qawmuh… wa kayfa akhāfu mā ashraktum wa lā takhāfūna annakum ashraktum bi-llāhi mā lam yunazzil bihi ʿalaykum sulṭānā, fa-ayyu al-farīqayni aḥaqqu bi-l-amni in kuntum taʿlamūn. Wa ḥājjahu qawmuh. Or it could be in general, because qawmuhu could be referring to his people; but the ayah says: his people disputed with him.
He said: do you dispute with me concerning Allah, while He has guided me? And I have no fear from those whom you associate with Allah in worship. I fear nobody except Allah. My Lord comprehends in His knowledge all things; will you not then remember? And how should I fear those whom you associate in worship with Allah, while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to be in security, if you but know?