Prophet Ibrahim AS

Prophet Ibrahim,who is remind ourselves of the story behind Hajj.Ibrahim dreamt that Allah wished for him to sacrifice his son Isma’il. From his reccuring dream, Prophet Ibhraim (as) knew that this was a command from Allah Almighty. As an obedient servant of Allah, Ibrahim took his son Isma’il to Mount Arafat with a knife and rope in preparation for the sacrifice. He told young Isma’il of his intentions but when he raised the knife, Allah intervened and spoke to Ibrahim: he was not to sacrifice his son. This had merely been a test of his faith, devotion and submission to Allah. Instead, Isma’il (as) was replaced with a sacrificial animal

The Story of Prophet Ibrahim AS

    Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) was the son of Aazar ibn Nahur, ibn Sarough, ibn Raghu, ibn Phaligh, ibn Aher, ibn Shalih, ibn Arfghshand, ibn Sam, ibn Nuh (A.S.). Ibrahim (A.S.) was born in the ancient city of Ur of the Chaldea, also known as Babylonia or Babylon (currently located in Iraq). He was born in a house of idolaters and his father was a well-known idol sculptor. As a young child, Ibrahim (A.S.) used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. At that time some people worshipped idols of stone and wood, others worshipped the planets, stars, sun, moon and some other worshipped their kings and rulers. Allah has gifted Ibrahim (A.S.) with spiritual understanding and gave him wisdom from an early age. Allah says in Al-Quran: 

“Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We Were Well Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc)” (Surah Anbiya: 21:51)

 

    During his early childhood, Ibrahim (A.S.) realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he asked about his father's creation then his father told him that these were the statues of the gods. Ibrahim (A.S.) was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. 

    Being a child he played with such statues sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of donkeys and mules. One day, his father saw him riding a statue called Mardukh. At that moment his father was angry and ordered his son not to play with the statue again. Ibrahim (A.S.) asked: "What is this statue, my father? It has big ears, bigger than ours." His father replied: "It is Mardukh, god of gods, my son, and the two great ears as a symbol of great intelligence." This made Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time.

    Ibrahim (A.S.) noticed that the statues, which were made by his father, did not eat and drink and were unable to speak, even if somebody overturned it unable to rise and stand as it was. How do humans imagine that these statues can bring harm and benefit to them? Ibrahim's (A.S.) people had a big temple full of idols. The largest statues were placed in the middle of the temple. Ibrahim (A.S.), who used to go to the temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised all these idols made of wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behaved when they entered the place of worship, they showed submission and honor in front of the statues. They even cried and begged for various things as if the statues heard what they complained and talked about. At first, such a sight seemed funny to him, but later he began to feel angry. What added to the problem was that his father wanted him to be a priest when he was grown? He wanted nothing more from his son but reverences for those statues from Ibrahim (A.S.), yet Ibrahim (A.S.) never stopped displaying his hatred and disdain for them.

 

    One day Ibrahim (A.S.) and his father came to the temple. There was a feast in front of statues and in the middle of the festival, there was a priest who gave a briefing about the greatness of the idol gods. The priest begged the statue to love his people and give them sustenance. Suddenly silence was broken by Ibrahim's (A.S.) voice addressed to the priest: "Oh priest, he will never hear you, do you believe that it has heard you?" People started looking for where the voice originated. They found that it was Ibrahim's (A.S.) voice. Then the priest began to show his anxiety and anger. Suddenly the father of Ibrahim (A.S.) tried to calm the situation and said that his son was sick and did not know what he was saying.

 

    Then they both came out of the temple. The father accompanied Ibrahim (A.S.) to his bed and tried to put him to sleep. However, he did not want to sleep. Ibrahim (A.S.) rose from the bed, left his house and went to a mountain. He walked alone in the dark until he chose a cave where he sat resting his back against its wall.

 

    In the cave from where view of the sky was clear, Ibrahim (A.S.) spend some time looking at the sky. He was looking at planets and stars which were worshipped by some people on earth. His young heart was filled with tremendous pain. He considered what was beyond the moon, the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished that these celestial bodies were worshipped by men whereas they had been created to worship and obey their Creator. Ibrahim (A.S.) came back to his house and asked his father and also his people who worshipped these celestial bodies. As Allah narrates Ibrahim’s (A.S.) words in Al-Quran: 

“And (remember) when Abraham said to his father Azar: “Do you take idols as aliha (gods)? Verily, I see you and your people in manifest error.” Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of heavens and the earth that he be one of those who have Faith with certainty. When the night covered him over with darkness he saw a star. He said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "I like not those that set.” [Surah Al-Anaam (6: 74 to 76)] 

And when he saw the moon rising, he said:

“This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray." And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah.” [Surah Al-Anaam (6: 77 to 79)] 

And his people argued with him. He said: 

“Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him [and will not be harmed] unless my Lord should will something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not remember? And how should I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He has not sent down to you any authority? So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you should know? They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security, and they are [rightly] guided. And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing.” [Surah Al-Anaam (6: 80 to 83)] 

    In that debate, Ibrahim (A.S.) clarified to his people that these celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshipped as partners with Allah. Indeed, these bodies are created things, fashioned, controlled, managed and made to serve. They appear sometimes and disappear at others, going out of sight from our world. However, Allah does not lose sight of anything, and nothing can be hidden from Him. He is without end, everlasting without disappearance. There is no other deity but Allah. Allah Says in Al-Quran:

“And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.” (Surah Fussilat: 41:37)

Ibrahim (A.S.) did his best to make his people heedful to the belief in the oneness of Allah and to worship of Him alone. When he said to his father and his people:

“What are these statues to which you are devoted?" They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them." He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error." They said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about?" He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.” [Surah Fussilat (41:52 to 56)]

    Ibrahim’s (A.S.) reasoning helped to reveal the truth, and it started the struggle between him and his people, including the one who most opposed him and was angry at his attitude was his father and his uncle, who raised him. The father said to his son: " O Ibrahim, you have betrayed me and have been dishonorable to me.” Ibrahim (A.S.) replied, as mention in Al-Quran:

When he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me, I will show you a straight path. O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed, Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].” [Surah Maryam (19: 42 to 45)]

Ibrahim’s (A.S.) father immediately rose and he blow his anger on Ibrahim (A.S.). As mention in Al-Quran: 

He (the father) said: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you.” (Surah Maryam 19:46) 

    It is clear from above ayat that Ibrahim’s (A.S.) father told him “If you do not stop from your preaching, I'll kill you with a rock and this will be an appropriate punishment for anyone who opposes my god. Get out of my house! I do not want to see you anymore. Get out!”

    Being a wise son and a noble Prophet, Ibrahim (A.S.) did not make his father feel foolish, nor did he argued disrespectfully with his father. He had a dialogue with his father by using the prophet’s ethics. When he heard the harsh words and threat of murder from his father, he said gently:

"May peace be upon you, I will ask forgiveness for my Lord, surely He is very good to me, and I will distance myself from you and from what you worship besides Allah, and I will pray to my Lord, hopefully I will not be disappointed with pray to my Lord.” [Surah Maryam (19:47 and 48)] 

After this conversation, Ibrahim (A.S.) left his father’s house.

    Ibrahim (A.S.), once again, tried to convince his people by telling them about the beauty of Allah's creations, His power, Wisdom and Oneness of Allah. However, the people would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Ibrahim (A.S.) decide to do something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would be attended by all the people. Ibrahim (A.S.) waited until the city was empty, then he came out cautiously, directing his steps towards the temple. The streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted as the priests had also gone to the festival outside the city. Ibrahim (A.S.) went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked at the stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. Ibrahim (A.S.) asked all the statues around him:

"Will you not eat of the offering before you? "What is the matter with you that you do not speak?” [Surah As-Saffat: (37:92 and 93)]

    Ibrahim (A.S.) immediately raised the axe in his hand and began to destroy the false gods that were worshiped by people. Ibrahim (A.S.) destroyed them all except the biggest one. He hung the axe on its shoulder as this statue had destroyed the other statues. After destroying the false gods, he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah.

    When the people returned, they shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They start to think who is the cause of all this. At last they knew and realized that this was the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) who had invited them to worship Allah. As mention in Al-Quran: 

    They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers." They said, " We heard a young man talking against them who is called Abraham." They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."

 They immediately asked for Ibrahim’s (A.S.) presence. When Ibrahim (A.S.) came to them they asked him:

They said: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Abraham?”

 Ibrahim (A.S.) responded with a smile and then pointed to the greatest god hanging, on whose shoulder he hung the axe.

Ibrahim (A.S.) said, "Actually the big statue has done it, then ask the idols, if they can speak."

    The people said: "Who should we ask?" Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: "Ask your god." Then they say: "Do you not know that they are not talking?" Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: "Why do you worship something that cannot speak, something that cannot afford the benefits and something that can not harm you, do not you want to think for a moment where your minds are, and your gods have been destroyed while the greatest god stand up and just look at it. These gods are not able to avoid the destruction of themselves, then how they can bring good to you. You do not want to think for a moment. The axe is on the shoulder of greatest god but strangely he cannot tell what happened. He cannot speak, hear, move, see, benefit, and does not harm, he's just a stone, then why people worship stones?”

Allah narrates the event in His words in Surah Al-Anbiya (21: 59 to 67) .

    Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) was able to subdue them with logical arguments. However, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their foolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority, as tyrants usually do, to punish Ibrahim (A.S.). They kept him in chains and planned their revenge.

    The Quran does not tell us about the age of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) when he destroyed the idols of his people. However, it is confirmed that the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) was still young when he destroyed the idols (The same is evident from Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:60 when people said “We heard a young man talking against them who is called Ibrahim.”)

    Idolaters do not want people to worship other than idols. They decided to throw Ibrahim (A.S.) into the biggest fire they could build with the intent of burning him alive. All the disbelievers were ordered to gather wood for fire as a service to their gods. For several days they collected the firewood. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which they will cast Ibrahim (A.S.) into the fire. They tied Ibrahim’s (A.S.) hands and feet with ropes and put him on the catapult. The fire was ready and its flames were reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Ibrahim (A.S.) into the fire. The angel Gabriel (A.S.) came near Ibrahim's (A.S.) head and asked him: "O Abraham do you wish for anything?" Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: "Nothing from you." The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn Ibrahim (A.S.) as Allah issued His command: 

"O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham." (Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:69) 

    The fire was subject to the command of Allah until it became cold and brought salvation to Ibrahim (A.S.). The fire only burned ropes that bind Ibrahim (A.S.). He was calm in the middle of the fire as if he were sitting in the middle of the garden. He praised Allah and glorified Him. What is in his heart is only love to the Beloved, i-e Allah. Ibrahim’s (A.S.) heart was not filled with fear or regret or lamentation. The only thing in his heart was just love for Allah. The fire was peaceful and cold. Indeed, those who love Allah will not feel frightened.

    The people, the chiefs, and the priests were watching the fire from a distance as this huge fire was burning their faces and nearly suffocated them. It kept burning for such a long time that the disbelievers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they were greatly amazed to find Ibrahim (A.S.) coming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but Ibrahim (A.S.) face was bright with the light and grace of Allah. The raging fire had become cool for Ibrahim (A.S.) and had only charred the ropes which held him. He walked out of the fire as if he was walking out of a garden. The unbelievers shouted in astonishment as they felt defeated by Ibrahim (A.S.). Allah says in Al-Quran: 

“And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.” (Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:70) 

    This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However, after this event, many of the people believed Ibrahim’s (A.S.) preaching of Oneness of Allah, although they kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers/people.

    Ibrahim (A.S.) had established a definite reasoning against idolaters. Nothing was left to prove for him except to reason against the rulers who proclaimed themselves gods.

    The Quran discusses a certain conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Ibrahim (A.S.). Although in the narration of Quran, name of the king/ruler has not been revealed, many historical sources suggest that it was Nimrod or Namrud.

    Nimrod became extremely arrogant due to his wealth and power, to the point that he made the claim that he possessed the power of creation and claimed divinity for himself. Namrud proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects.

    Namrud, King of Babylon, felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim (A.S.) coming out of the fire unharmed, majority of his people started believing in Allah and Ibrahim (A.S.) being a true prophet of Allah. Namrud wanted to debate with Ibrahim (A.S.) and show his people that he, the king, is indeed the god and that Ibrahim (A.S.) was a liar. He feared that the status of godhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. In order to safeguard his interests, he summoned Ibrahim (A.S.) to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah has narrated in Al-Quran:

    Have you not thought about him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." He said: "I give life and cause death." Abraham said: "Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoers etc). (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:258)

    As mentioned above, Allah deliberately does not mention the name of the king as it is considered unimportant. The Quran also does not mention the long dialogue between Ibrahim (A.S.) and the king. Perhaps the king said to Ibrahim (A.S.): "I hear that you invite men to worship the new God and to abandon the old god." Ibrahim (A.S.) said: "There is no god except Allah, the One." The king, who is proud and arrogant, said: "What does your god do I cannot do?" Ibrahim (A.S.) said gently: "My Lord is the one who can bring life and death." The king arrogantly replied: "I give life and cause death." The Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) did not ask how the king gave life and death as he knew that the king was lying. Ibrahim (A.S.) said: "Verily, Allah is able to bring the sun from the east, can you bring it from the west?

    King did not know what to say and what to do. After Namrud was silenced by Ibrahim (A.S.), he (Ibrahim) left the royal palace. Then the truth of the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) spread throughout the land. Humans start talking about his miracle and his salvation from the fire and his arguments with king that made the king speechless.

    Ibrahim (A.S.) continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a great effort to guide his people to the right path. He tried every possible means to convince them. However in spite of his love and care for the people, they did not listened to him and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in Allah. The woman was named Sarah who later became his wife while the man was Lut who later became a prophet after him. When Ibrahim (A.S.) realized that no one else was going to believe in his call, he decided to migrate. Before his migration, he invited his father to believe in Allah. He knew that his father was the enemy of Allah and he would not believe. Allah says in Al-Quran:

And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient. (Surah At-Tawbah: 9:114) 

    For the second time in the stories of the prophets, we found something shocking. In the story of prophet Nuh (A.S.), we found that the father is a Prophet of Allah and the son is a disbeliever whereas in the story of Ibrahim (A.S.), the father is a tyrant and the son is Prophet of Allah. In both the stories we come to know that a true believer is free from the enemy of Allah, whether the disbeliever is son or father of Messenger of Allah. Through both the stories, Allah tells us that the only relationship to be maintained and to be observed among human relationships is the relationship of faith and not just blood relations.

    Ibrahim (A.S.) left his father, people and country then started his journey with his wife and Lut to a city called Ur, then to a place called Haran, and then to Palestine. Allah told us in Al-Quran:

"So Lut believed in him (Abraham's message of Islamic Monotheism). He (Abraham) said: "I will emigrate for the sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All Mighty, the All Wise."

 (Surah Al-Ankabut: 29:26) 

    After going to Palestine, Ibrahim (A.S.) went to Egypt. During this journey Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) invited people to worship Allah, show them the right path and helped the poor.

 BIRTH OF ISMAIL (A.S.):

Sarah knew that her husband, Ibrahim (A.S.), was longing for a child. As Allah has mentioned Ibrahim’s (A.S.) dua in Quran:

"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" (Surah Al Saffat 37:100)

    She also knew that she was getting old and may not be able to provide Ibrahim (A.S.) with a child. She suggested to Ibrahim (A.S.) that he should marry her servant Hajarah and maybe Allah would bless them with a child through her. Ibrahim (A.S.) accepted the advice of his beloved wife Sarah and married Hajarah. It wasn’t long before Ibrahim (A.S.) and Hajarah were blessed with a baby boy whom they named Ismael/Ismail. Ibrahim (A.S.) was overjoyed with happiness at the birth of his first son. They all celebrated and thanked Allah for such a great and beautiful blessing. Some scholars say that Ibrahim (A.S.) was 86 years old at the time of Ismail’s birth.

PROPHET IBRAHIM'S SACRIFICE

    It is said that Ibrahim (AS) experienced a dream one night, in which Allah (SWT) told him to sacrifice Ismail (AS), his beloved son. At first, Ibrahim (AS) believed this was the devil playing tricks on him and he immediately disregarded it. However, the following night, the same dream occurred again commanding him to do the same. Ibrahim (AS) then came to realise that this was no fluke and was, in fact, a message from Allah (SWT).

    Ibrahim (AS) loved his son, Ismail (AS). Yet he was fully prepared to follow Allah's (SWT) command and do as He instructed. He took his son to the top of Mount Arafat and brought with him a knife and rope. Upon reaching an appropriate place, he told his son about his dream and what Allah (SWT) had commanded him to do. Being an obedient son, Prophet Ismail (AS) immediately obliged to the wishes of Allah (SWT) and his father, and asked that his hands and legs be tied so that he may not struggle and that his father blindfold himself so that he does not have to witness him suffer.

    Ibrahim (AS) did as Ismail (AS) had said. Blindfolded and with the knife in his hands, he did as Allah (SWT) had asked of him. When he took the blindfold off, to his surprise, he saw the body of a dead ram in front of him. Ismail (AS) was completely unharmed standing right next to him. At first, he thought that something had gone horribly wrong and that he had disobeyed the order of his Creator. But then he heard a voice telling him that Allah (SWT) looks after his followers and that he need not worry.

    A divine miracle had taken place. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had just passed a difficult test from Allah (SWT).

‘And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called to him, “O Ibrahim, You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, And We left for him [favourable mention] among later generations: “Peace upon Ibrahim.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.’ (Qur’an, 37: 103-11)

    Since then, every year, during the month of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the holy calendar, Muslims from around the world perform Qurbani to remember what Ibrahim (AS) did. We use his deed to inspire devotion, obedience, and submission in our own lives. Muslims sacrifice animals (preferably a goat, cow or camel) using special rules and practices, in memory of Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) sacrifice. 

 
IBRAHIM (A.S.) ASKED ALLAH ABOUT RESURRECTION:

    Ibrahim (A.S.) lived on the earth worshipping Allah, sanctifying Him and calling people to worship Allah and Allah alone. But he knew that his days on earth were limited and that these days would be followed by death and finally resurrection. The knowledge of life after death filled Abraham with peace and love and certitude. One day Ibrahim (AS) asked Allah how dead people will come back on The day of judgment. Allah commanded him to take four birds, tear them apart into pieces and then mix the bodies up. He then divided the mix into four parts and placed each part on the top of four hills. He asked Ibrahim (A.S.) to call back the birds by Allah’s name. Immediately, the birds reassembled to their original parts, came back to life. Allah Has revealed this in Al-Quran:

“Remember when Abraham said: ‘My Lord Show me how You give life to the dead." Allah said: "Do you not believe?" Abraham said: "Yes I believe, but to be stronger in Faith." He said: "Take four birds, the cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces) and then put a portion of them on every hill and call them they will come to you in haste. And know that Allah is All Mighty and All Wise." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:260) 

Ibrahim (A.S.) is the only person that the Quran commands our prophet to look up to as a role model. Allah Says in Al-Quran:

“Then, We have inspired you (O Muhammad): “Follow the religion of Ibrahim (Abraham) Haneefa (Islamic Monotheism – to worship none but Allah)” (Surah An-Nahl 16:123)