It means that the polytheists will acknowledge that the one...

It means that the polytheists will acknowledge that the one who performs the aforementioned actions is Allah. The following questions arise: does the verse mean that in the near future the Noble Prophet ( s ) would ask the polytheists these questions and they would give these answers? Would they respond like this assuming that he would ask them these questions?

Will their primordial nature dictate this in such a way that if they refer and move according to their natural disposition, they will concede that the executor of these affairs is Allah? The answer to all three questions is a simple ‘yes’. One delicate point in the verse, “They will say, ‘Allah’.” is that the response to the aforementioned questions is so clear and lucid that the polytheists do not need to think about it. They unhesitatingly and instantly say ‘Allah’.

This emphatically affirms that belief in the lordship of Allah is innate and natural. If the dirt covering the primordial nature of every man is dusted off, he will conceive this truth. Perhaps, the reason why Prophet Abraham ( ‘a ) broke the idols [into pieces] was to remove this filth from the surface of the polytheists’ primordial nature. It was for this same reason that [after breaking the idols into pieces] he hung an axe around the neck of the biggest idol.

[When the polytheists asked him if he had broken their idols into pieces], he stated, “Rather it was the biggest of them who did it. Ask them, if they can speak.” [^2] By this deed, he intended to awaken them from heedlessness, oblivion and slumber, and revert to their natural disposition.

For a short while, a few of them got awakened, but when the atmosphere once again got poisoned, they shouted, “Burn him, and help your gods.” [^3] Vigilance of primordial natures Sleeping primordial natures [oblivious to truth] sometimes wake up as a result of certain occurrences and revert to themselves: “When they board the ship, they invoke Allah putting exclusive faith in Him, but when he delivers them to land, behold, they ascribe partners [to Him].” [^4] It can easily be deduced from this verse that primordial natures awaken when they feel danger and ask for redemption from Allah, the true Redeemer and real Owner of the cosmos.

But after being delivered from danger and getting entangled in common habits and practices, primordial natures once again fall asleep.