Az-Zukhruf 43:22

<h2>The Idolators have no Proof</h2><p>Allah condemns the idolators for worshipping others instead of Allah with no evidence or proof for doing so.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">أَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـهُمْ كِتَـباً مِّن قَبْلِهِ</div><p>(Or have We given them any Book before this) means, before their idolatry.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">فَهُم بِهِ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ</div><p>(to which they are holding fast) means, with regard to what they are doing. This is not the case. This is like the Ayah:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">أَمْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـناً فَهُوَ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِمَا كَانُواْ بِهِ يُشْرِكُونَ </div><p>(Or have We revealed to them an authority (a Scripture), which speaks of that which they have been associating with Him) (30:35) meaning, that did not happen. Then Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">بَلْ قَالُواْ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّهْتَدُونَ </div><p>(Nay! They say: "we found our fathers following a certain way and religion (Ummah), and we guide ourselves by their footsteps.") meaning, they have no grounds for their belief in idolatry apart from the fact that they are imitating their fathers and forefathers who were following a certain Ummah or way, i.e., religion. The word Ummah is used in a similar manner elsewhere, where Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِنَّ هَـذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً</div><p>(And verily, this your religion (Ummah) is one religion) …

Nay, for they say only: Lo! we found our fathers following a religion, and we are guided by their footprints.

Nay! they say: "We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps."

Nay! They say: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps."

But they say, “We found our parents on a course, and we are guided in their footsteps.”