Al-Anbiya 21:55

<h2>The Story of Ibrahim and his People</h2><p>Allah tells us about His close Friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and how He bestowed upon him guidance aforetime, i.e., from an early age He inspired him with truth and evidence against his people, as Allah says elsewhere:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـهَآ إِبْرَهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ</div><p>(And that was Our proof which We gave Ibrahim against his people) 6:83. The point here is that Allah is telling us that He gave guidance to Ibrahim aforetime, i.e., He had already guided him at an early age.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَكُنَّا بِهِ عَـلِمِينَ</div><p>(and We were Well-Acquainted with him.) means, and he was worthy of that. Then Allah says:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">إِذْ قَالَ لاًّبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا هَـذِهِ التَّمَـثِيلُ الَّتِى أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـكِفُونَ </div><p>(When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted") This is the guidance which he had been given during his youth: his denunciation of his people's worship of idols instead of Allah. Ibrahim said:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">مَا هَـذِهِ التَّمَـثِيلُ الَّتِى أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـكِفُونَ</div><p>("What are these images, to which you are devoted") meaning, which you worship with such devotion.</p><div class="arabic uthmani">قَالُواْ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَـبِدِينَ </div><p>(They said: "We found our fathers worshipping …

They said: Bringest thou unto us the truth, or art thou some jester?

They said, "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?"

They said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about?"

They said, “Are you telling us the truth, or are you just playing?”