So Abraham was in error at the start, then he was guided.
He saw his people worshiping the idols and statues which they themselves made, so he refused the idols, then he started to search about his Lord.
His people worshiped the sun, the moon and the stars and the planets of the sky, specially Planet Venus or the morning star as they called it.
So he saw the planet Venus, and said: This is my Lord, then when it set, he said: The god should not be absent from his creation. Then he saw the moon shining, he said: this is my Lord, then also the moon set, and he said: It can't be my Lord who should not be absent. Then he thought to ask his Lord to acquaint him about Himself.
Then he saw the sun rising, and he said: This is my Lord, and when it set; he said: I am quit of all such gods.
God sent him His angel: Gabriel who said: God is Glorified and Magnified by us; He is Lord of angels and the rouh: [Gabriel and his likes]; Abraham said: God is our Lord and the Lord of the angels and the rouh.
The story of Abraham's guidance, as in the Quran 6: 74- 83, which mean:
{ 74. And [tell them] when Abraham a said to his father Azar [in Arabic, which is the same Thare in Hebrew] b: "Do you take idols for gods c ? Surely, I see you and your people in manifest error d."
75. e Thus did We show to Abraham [Our vast] kingdom of the heavens [: the planets] and the earth f; so that he might be of those having sure belief g.
76. And when the night outspread over him, he saw a planet [: Venus h]; he said: "This is my Lord." But when the [planet] set, [Abraham] said: "I love not the setters."
77. When he saw the moon shining [in the sky], he said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, [Abraham] said: "If my Lord does not guide me [to my wisdom], I shall surely be of the people gone astray [from the correct way.]"
78. Then when he saw the sun shining [in the east], he said: "This is my Lord; this is greater [than the moon and the planets.]"
But when the [sun] set, he said: "My people, surely I quit myself of [all the idols] that you associate [with God.]"
79. "I have turned my face to Him, Who split the heavens [: the planets] and the earth i;
I am being a Hanief [: a monotheist], and not of those that associate [partners with God.]" j
80. His people wrangled with him. k
[Abraham] said: "Do you dispute with me concerning God, when He has guided me? l
I fear not of that which you associate with Him m, except that my Lord wills anything n. My Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge o,
will you not then be admonished [and abandon worshipping the idols]?
81. "Why should I fear the [idols] that you associate [with God, when they are merely engraved stones which neither profit nor harm],
the while you fear [Him p] not: because you associate with God [the idols, to] which He has not sent down on you any 'heavenly commandment' q?
So which of the two parties [: you or I] will be more worthy of security [in the Next Life], if you have knowledge [of the final consequences]?"
[Then God – be glorified – confirmed the words of Abraham that security is for believers not for associaters and idolaters:]
82. Those who believe [in God and His messengers], and do not confound their belief with a wrong-doing [of association r] – such will have the sure security [from the chastisement in the Next Life]; they are guided [to the way of the truth.]
83. This [argument of Abraham] is Our evident argument which We gave to Abraham s [to argue with] against his people; We raise in ranks t whom [of believers] We like; your Lord is Most Wise u, All-Knowing [of whoever deserves wisdom, so He raises his rank with it.]}
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a i.e. Mention to them the story of Abraham in order to contemplate it and ponder about it as did Abraham think, so he was guided to the correct way.
b Which means: 'he aided his father'; because his father had no son, then when Abraham was born, they said:Thare, i.e. 'he aided his father'.
c To worship them apart from God.
d Far away from the truth.
e It means: As did We let Abraham realize the mistake of his father, thus did We show to him …
f i.e. We showed him Our tremendous kingdom of the planets including the earth, in order to think and reason.
g About the signs of God and His might.
h Because the planet Venus is the first of the stars of the sky to appear at night.
i Who split them into nine planets, after being one object; which has been interpreted in the aya 14 in this soora.
j That is because when Abraham grew up and attained adulthood, he saw his people worship the idols, he disliked that because of being stones that could not do any profit or harm.
So he started to think and look to the sky, that he might find his Creator to worship Him.
He directed his sight to the sky, because they said to him: There is One God in heaven, and many gods on earth; so when he did not like the gods of the earth, he started to look at the sky and observe its objects, but when he saw them disappear from sight, he said to himself: The attributes of God should be lasting and should not change, and God should always be present and should not disappear or set.
Then it came to his mind that he has better to ask his Creator to guide him to Himself; so that he may know and worship Him.
So he said: "If my Lord does not guide me [to my wisdom], I shall surely be of the people gone astray [from the correct way.]"
Therefore, God sent him Gabriel who said to him:
(God is the 'Glorified', the 'Sanctified' [by angels], Lord of angels and the Spirit.)
So Abraham at that time, discerned his guidance and wisdom, and said:
("I have turned my face to Him, Who split the heavens [: the planets] and the earth;
I am being a Hanief [: a monotheist], and not of those that associate [partners with God.]")
k Concerning their idols and warned him of evil that might befall him should he abandon worshipping them.
l To the way of the truth, by means of the inspiration, revelation, rational proofs and cosmic signs.
m If I break them up. It means: I do neither fear of the idols nor do I fear of you that you may kill, imprison or beat me.
n For some purpose that I don't know.
o Because God knows more than I and you do about the consequences of affairs; so if He likes that I should be killed or imprisoned by you, then I don't object to that.
p i.e. God Who is your Creator and Provider, in Whose hand is your death and life.
q i.e. God did not reveal any commandment to worship the idols, neither did He reveal any book or declaration in which He might command you to worship them, but in fact He commanded you to worship Him alone, and that you should not associate with Him anyone of His creatures.
r i.e. they do not mix their belief with association; like the saying of Loqman [Tobias] to his son, as in the Quran 31: 13, which means:
("My son, associate none with God; for, surely, the association [with God] is a tremendous wrong.")
s i.e. which We taught to Abraham by means of inspiration and revelation.
t By knowledge and wisdom.
u With His acts.
The interpretation is by Mohammed-Ali Hassan Al-Hilly.