Nay! They say:"we found our fathers following a certain way and religion (Ummah), and we guide ourselves by their footsteps."meaning, they have no grounds for their belief in idolatry apart from the fact that they are imitating their fathers and forefathers who were following a certain Ummah or way, i.e., religion.The word Ummah is used in a similar manner elsewhere, where Allah says:إِنَّ هَـذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةًAnd verily, this your religion (Ummah) is one religion. (23:52),and they said;وَإِنَّا عَلَى اثَارِهِمand we by their footsteps,means, behind them. مُّهْتَدُونَWe guide ourselves,This is their claim with no evidence.Then Allah points out that what these people say was already said by those who were like them among the nations of the past who disbelieved in the Messengers. Their hearts and their words are similar.كَذَلِكَ مَأ أَتَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ مِّن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ قَالُواْ سَـحِرٌ أَوْ مَجْنُونٌأَتَوَاصَوْاْ بِهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ طَـغُونَ Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said:"A sorcerer or a madman!"Have they transmitted this saying to these?Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds! (51:52-53)And Allah says here:وَكَذَلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلاَّ قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَاإِنَّا وَجَدْنَا ابَاءنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى اثَارِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ