Al-Ahqaf • EN-TAFSIR-IBN-ABBAS
﴿ وَٱلَّذِى قَالَ لِوَٰلِدَيْهِ أُفٍّۢ لَّكُمَآ أَتَعِدَانِنِىٓ أَنْ أُخْرَجَ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ ٱلْقُرُونُ مِن قَبْلِى وَهُمَا يَسْتَغِيثَانِ ٱللَّهَ وَيْلَكَ ءَامِنْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّۭ فَيَقُولُ مَا هَٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ ﴾
“But [there is many a one] who says to his parents [whenever they try to imbue him with faith in God]: “Fie upon both of you! Do you promise me that I shall be brought forth [from the dead], although [so many] generations have passed away before me?” And [while] they both pray for God’s help [and say], “Alas for thee! For, behold, God’s promise always comes true!” - he but answers, “All this is nothing but fables of ancient times!””
(And whoso saith unto his parents: Fie upon you both!) the one who said this is 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Abi Bakr; he said this to his parents before he became Muslim. (Do ye threaten me that I shall be brought forth (again)) from the grave for the resurrection (when generations before me have passed away) and I have not seen them resurrected? He was referring to two of his forefathers who died during the pagan era: Jad'an and 'Uthman the sons of 'Amr. (And they twain) his parents (cry unto Allah for help (and say): Woe unto thee) may Allah straiten your livelihood! (Believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an! (Lo! the promise of Allah) about the resurrection (is true) will happen after death. (But he saith) 'Abd al-Rahman says: (This) which Muhammad (s)ays (is naught save fables of the men of old) nothing but the lies of the men of old: