“And recount to them the story of Abraham: when he asked his father and his people: ‘What do you worship?’ They answered: ‘There are some idols that we worship and are devoted to them with constancy.’ He asked: ‘Do they hear you when you call them, or do they cause you any benefit or harm?’ They answered: ‘No; but we found our forefathers doing so.’”
(Al Qur’ān – 26:70-74)
After his designation as a Prophet, Prophet Ibrahim had to face a conflict between him and his family on the one side, and between him and his nation on the other, regarding doctrinal questions such as monotheism and polytheism. His purpose of asking this question was to show people the worthlessness of the idols.
The answer Ibrahim’s father and his people gave shows that the true reason for their worshipping the idols was not that they were convinced that those idols and images accepted their supplications and prayers, or that they could harm or benefit them. They rather worshipped them because they believed that that had been the hallowed practice of their forefathers.
In saying so, they virtually admitted that their religion had no other grounds to stand on except blind imitation of the ways of their forefathers. That is, they were saying that there was nothing novel in their statement that those idols were made of wood or stone. They themselves could see that and they also knew well that objects made of wood do not listen to any supplication and stones are devoid of the capacity to do anything for anyone.