Surah Al-Anbiya 21:61
سُورَةُ الأَنبِيَاءِ · Meccan · Verse 61 of 112
قَالُوا۟ فَأْتُوا۟ بِهِۦ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْيُنِ ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ
Translation
They said, ‘Bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may witness [his trial].’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The leaders of Prophet Ibrahim's people, having heard of a young man speaking against their idols, declared their intention with a powerful choice of words: «قالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ» (They said, "Bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may witness.")
Public View
The phrase «عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ» (on the eyes of the people) is not merely a literal direction to bring Ibrahim into public view. Scholars like al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi, and Ibn Ashur explain that the preposition «عَلَىٰ» (on/upon) here functions as a metaphor. It conveys a sense of strong establishment, as if what is seen is so clearly and undeniably present that it rests securely *on* the very eyes of the onlookers, much like a rider firmly seated on their mount. This choice of wording emphasizes that they desired a spectacle, an event so conspicuous that no one could miss or deny Ibrahim's presence and alleged actions. It was about public display, making him utterly "visible" and "uncovered," as Mahmud Safi points out.
What they intended
The intent behind this public display is further illuminated by the second part of the verse: «لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْهَدُونَ» (so that they may witness). The Arabic word *yash-hadoon* (يشهدون), rooted in *shahada*, carries a significant weight. As explained by al-Razi and others, it has two primary dimensions here. Firstly, the leaders wanted the people to "witness *against* him," to confirm his guilt or to testify to his perceived wrongdoing, thereby building a strong case to justify their actions against him. Secondly, some scholars suggest that it also implied witnessing the *punishment* that would be meted out, serving as a public deterrent for anyone else contemplating similar defiance. They aimed for a collective affirmation of his guilt and the consequences, turning his trial into a public lesson.
This precise wording thus reveals a calculated move by the leaders to use public perception for their advantage, aiming to shame and deter. Yet, what they planned for his downfall, Allah would orchestrate for a profound revelation of truth.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:61 is discussed in 3 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Anbiya 21:61 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.