Story of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (pbuh) Ibn Kathir Some of the People of the Book stated that his name wasAbraham Ibn Tarikh, Ibn Nahur, Ibn Sarough, Ibn Raghu, Ibn Phaligh, IbnAher, Ibn Shalih, Ibn Arfghshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah. They said that when Tarikh was seventy five years old,he had Abraham, Nahor (Nohour) and Haran. Haran had a son named Lot.They also said that Abraham was the middle child and that Haran died inthe lifetime of his father in the land where he was born, the land ofthe Chaldeans (Al Kaldanieen), also known as Babylonia. At that timesome people worshipped idols of stone and wood; others worshipped theplanets, stars, sun and moon; still others worshipped their kings andrulers. Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typicalfamily of that ancient time. The head of the family was not even anordinary idolater, but was one who totally rejected Allah and who usedto make the idols with his own hands. Some traditions claimed thatAbrahams father died before his birth and he was raised by an unclewhom Abraham called father. Other traditions said that his father wasalive and was named Azer. Into that family Abraham was born, destined to standagainst his own family, against the entire system of his community. Inbrief, he stood against all kinds of polytheism. He was endowed with spiritual understanding from anearly age. Allah enlightened his heart and mind gave him wisdom fromchildhood. Allah the Almighty stated: Indeed We bestowed aforetimeon Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well Acquainted withhim( as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51) During his early childhood Abraham realized that hisfather made strange statues. One day, he asked him about what it was hemade. His father replied that he made statues of gods. Abraham wasastonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child heplayed with such statues sitting on their backs as people sit on thebacks of donkeys and mules. One day his father saw him riding the statue of Mardukh and he became furious. He ordered his son not to play with it again. Abraham asked: What is this statue, father? It has big ears, bigger than ours. His father answered: It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! These big ears show his deep knowledge. This made Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time. Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood hisheart had been full of hatred for these idols. He could not understandhow a sane person could make a statue and then worship what he had made.He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink or talk and they couldnot even turn themselves right side up if someone turned them upsidedown. How, then could people believe that such statues could harm orbenefit them? Abraham s people had a big temple full of idols, inthe middle of which was a niche accommodating the biggest gods which wasof different kinds, qualities and shapes. Abraham, who used to go tothe temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised allthat wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behavedwhen they entered the temple; they bowed and started to cry, begging andimploring their gods for help as if the idols could hear or understandthese requests! At first, such a sight seemed funny to Abraham, butlater he began to feel angry. Was it not astonishing that all thosepeople could be deceived? What added to the problem was that his fatherwanted him to be a priest when he was grown. He wanted nothing morefrom his son that that he revere those statues, yet Abraham neverstopped displaying his hatred and disdain of them. One night Abraham left his house to go to a mountain.He walked alone in the dark until he chose a cave in the mountain wherehe sat resting his back against its wall. He looked at the sky. Hehad hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets andstars which were worshipped by some people on earth. His young heartwas filled with tremendous pain. He considered what was beyond themoon, the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished thatthese celestial bodies were worshipped by men when they had been createdto worship and obey their Creator, appearing and disappearing at Hiscommand. Therefore Abraham, addressed his people who worshipped celestial bodies as Almighty Allah revealed:Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth thathe be one of those who have Faith and certainty. When the night coveredhim over with darkness he saw a star. He said: This is my lord. Butwhen it set, he said: I like not that those who set. When he saw themoon rising up he said: This is my lord. but when it set he said:Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among the erring people.When he saw the sun rising up he said: This is my lord, This isgreater. But when it set, he said: O my people! I am indeed free fromall that you join as partners in worship with Allah. Verily, I haveturned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earthHanifan (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allah Alone) and Iam not of the Al Mushrikeen (those who worship others besides Allah). His people disputed with him. He said: Do youdispute with me concerning Allah while HE has guided me and I fear notthose whom youassociate with Allah in worship. (Nothing can happen to me) except whenmy Lord (Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledgeall things. Will you not then remember? And how should I fear those whom you associate inworship with Allah (though they can neither benefit nor harm), while youfear not that you have joined in worship with Allah things for which HEhas not sent down to you any authority. So which of the two partieshas more right to be in security? If you but know. It is those who believe (in the Oneness ofAllah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief withZulm (wrong, i.e. by worshipping others besides Allah), for them onlythere is security and they are the guided. And that was Our proof whichWe gave Abraham against his people. We raise whom We will in degrees.Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:75-83 Quran). In that debate, Abraham clarified to his people thatthese celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshippedas partners with Allah the Almighty. Indeed these bodies are createdthings, fashioned, controlled, managed and made to serve. They appearsometimes and disappear at others, going out of sight from our world.However, Allah the Almighty does not lose sight of anything, and nothingcan be hidden from Him. He is without end, everlasting withoutdisappearance. There is no other deity but Allah. Abraham made clear to them, first that the celestialbodies are unworthy of worship and second that they are among the signsof Allah. Almighty Allah commanded: And from among His Signs are thenight and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate not to the sunnor to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them if you reallyworship Him. (Ch 41:37) Abrahams reasoning helped to reveal the truth, andthen the conflict between him and his people began for the worshippersof the stars and planets did not stand mute. they began arguing andthreatening Abraham. Abraham replied: Do you dispute with me concerningAllah while HE has guided me, and I fear not those whom you associatewith Allah in worship. (Nothing can happen to me except when my Lord(Allah) wills something. My Lord comprehends in His Knowledge allthings. Will you not then remember? How should I fear those whom youassociate in worship with Allah (though they can neither benefit orharm), while you fear not that you have joined in worship with Allahthings for which He has not sent down to you any authority. SO which ofthe two parties has more rights to be in security? .....if you butknow! It is those who believe (in the oneness of Allah and worship nonebut HiAlone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong byworshipping others besides Allah), for them only there is security andthey are the guided. (Ch 6:80-82) The curtains are drawn on the first category of thepeople, those who were worshipping celestial bodies. the next situationreveals the second group, those who were practicing idolatry. Allahgave Abraham (pbuh) the reasoning he needed the first time and everytime he argued with his people. Almighty Allah declared: And thatwas Our Proof which We gave Abraham against his people. We raised whomWe will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. (Ch 6:83) Abraham did his best to make his people heedful to thebelief in the oneness of Almighty Allah and to the worship of Himalone. He bade them to firmly renounce the worship of idols. HE saidto his father and his people: What are these images, to which youare devoted? they said: We found our fathers worshipping them. Hesaid: Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error. Theysaid: Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who playabout? He said: Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and theearth, Who created them and of that I am of the witnesses. (Ch 21:52-56) All was finished between Abraham and his people and thestruggle began. the most amazed and furious was his father (or hisuncle who had raised him), for as it is well known, he not onlyworshipped idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Abraham felt thatit was his duty as a good son to advise his father against this evil sothat he could be saved from Allahs punishment. Being a wise son he did not make his father feelfoolish, nor did he openly laugh at his conduct. He told him that heloved him, thereby hoping to generate fatherly love. Then he gentlyasked him why he worshipped lifeless idols who could not hear, see orprotect him. before his father could become angry he hastily added:O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that whichcame not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path.O my father! Worship not Satan. Verily! Stan has been a rebelagainst the Most Beneficent (Allah). O my father! Verily! I fear lesta torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you as that youbecome a companion of Satan (in the Hellfire). He (the father) said: Do you reject my gods, OAbraham? If you stop not this, I will indeed stone you. So get awayfrom me safely before I punish you. Abraham said: Peace be on you! Iwill ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, EverMost Gracious. And I shall turn away from you and from those whom youinvoke besides Allah. (Ch 19:43-48) His fathers harsh treatment did not stop Abraham fromdelivering the message of truth. Angry and sad to see people prostatebefore idols, he was determined to stamp out these practices and went tothe town to debate with the people knowing full well that he mightsuffer harm. Like a wise doctor searching for the cause of asickness so as to prescribe the proper cure, or like a judge whoquestioned the accused sharply so that he mighty detect the truth.Abraham asked them: Do the idols see you when you prostrate beforethem? Do they benefit you in any way. They quickly tried to defendtheir beliefs. They argued that they knew the idols were lifeless butthat their forefathers had worshipped them; to them this was proofenough for their belief. Abraham explained that their forefathers had beenwrong. This angered them and they retorted: Are you condemning ourgods and our forefathers? Or are you just joking? Abraham showed no fear as he replied: I am serious. Icome to you with a true religion. I have been sent with guidance fromour Lord Who alone is worthy of worship, Who is the Creator of theheavens and the earth, and Who regulates all affairs of life, unlike thedumb idols which are just stone and wood. TO convince them that the idols could not harm him, hechallenged: I have already condemned them; of they had any power theywould have harmed me by now! Almighty Allah recounted: Recite to them the storyof Abraham. When he said to his father and his people. What do youworship? They said: We worship idols, and to them we are everdevoted. He said: Do they hear you when you call on them? OR do theybenefit you or do they harm you? They said: Nay but we found ourfather doing so. He said: Do you observe that which you beenworshipping, You and your ancient fathers? Verily! They are enemies tome, save the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists);Who has created me and it is HE Who guides me and it is HE Who feeds meand gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me; andWho will cause me to die and then will bring me to life again and Who Ihope will forgive me my faults on the Day of Resurrection. (Ch 26:69-82 Quran). In another surah The Almighty revealed: And rememberAbraham when he said to his people: Worship Allah Alone and fear Himthat is better for you if you did but know. You worship besides Allahonly idols and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom youworship beside Allah have no power to give you provision, so seek yourprovision from Allah Alone, you will be brought back. And if you denythen nations before you have denied their Messengers. the duty of theMessenger is only to convey the Message plainly. See they not how Allah originates creation, then will repent it. Verily, that is easy for Allah. Say: Travel in the land and see how Allah originatedcreation and then Allah will bring forth (resurrect) the creation of theHereafter (i.e. resurrection after death) verily, Allah is Able to doall things. He punishes whom HE wills and shows mercy towhom He wills, and to Him you will be returned. And you cannot escapein the earth or in the heaven. And besides Allah you have neither anyWali (Protector, or guardian) nor any Helper. And those who disbelievein the Ayat (proofs, lessons, signs, evidences, verses, revelations etc)of Allah and the Meeting with Him, it is they who have no hope of MyMercy, and it is they who will have a painful torment. (CH 22:16-23 Quran) He explained to them the beauty of Allahs creation,His power and wisdom. Idol worship is detested by Allah for Allah isthe Lord of the universe Who created mankind, guided him and providedhim with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who willcause him to die and be raised up again. iT was He to Whom Abrahamprayed and Who would forgive his sins on the Day of Judgment. However,they would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Abraham left his fathers house and abandoned hispeople and what they worshipped. He decide to do something about theirstate of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew that there was goingto be a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would beattended by all the people. Abraham waited until the city was empty,then came out cautiously, directing his steps towards the temple. thestreets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted forthe priests had also gone to the festival outside the city. Abraham went there carrying a sharp axe. He looked atthe stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front ofthem as offerings. He approached one of the statues and asked: Thefood in front of you is getting cold. Why dont you eat? the statuekept silent and rigid. Abraham asked all the other statues around him: Will you not eat of the offering before you? (Ch 37:91) He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked then: What is the matter with you that you do not speak? (Ch 37:92) he then raised his axe and started smashing the falsegods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one on whoseneck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt atpeace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his peoplea practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something otherthan All. When the people returned, they were shocked to seetheir gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. Theybegan to guess who had done that to their idols and Abrahams name cameto their minds. Allah the Almighty said: they said: Who has donethis to our aliah (gods)? He must indeed be one of the wrongdoers.They said: We heard a young man talking against them who is calledAbraham. They said: Then bring him before the eyes of the people,that they may testify. they said: Are you the one who has done thisto our gods, O Abraham? Abraham said: nay, this one, the biggest ofthem (idols) did it, Ask them, if they can speak! SO they turned to themselves and said: Verilyyou are the Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers). Then they turned tothemselves (their first thought and said): Indeed you (Abraham) knowwell that these idols speak not? Abraham said: DO you then worshipbesides Allah, things that can neither profit you nor harm you? If uponyou, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Have you then nosense? (Ch 21:59-67 Quran) Furious, they demanded that Abraham be arrested andtried. Abraham did not resist. this was precisely what he had beenaiming for, so that he could show them up in public for their foolishbeliefs. At the trial they asked him if he was responsible forbreaking the idols. Smiling, he told them to ask the biggest idol whichwas still whole. He told them that he must be the culprit! Theyreplied that he knew well that the idol could not speak or move whichgave Abraham the chance to prove the foolishness of worshipping theselifeless objects. they then realized the senselessness of their beliefs;however, their arrogance would not allow them to admit theirfoolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority astyrants usually do to punish Abraham. They kept him in chains andplanned their revenge. Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided tothrow Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizenswere ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sickwomen vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood toburn Abraham. For several days they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood andignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into thefire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied.The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stoodaway from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gavehis order to cast Abraham into the fire. The angel Gabriel came near Abrahams head and askedhim: O Abraham do you wish for anything? Abraham replied: Nothingfrom you. The catapult was shot and Abraham was cast into thefire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a coolgarden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allahthe Almighty had issued His command: O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham. (Ch 21:69 Quran) The fire submitted to the will of Allah, becoming cooland safe for Abraham. It only burned his bonds, and he sat in the midstof the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He glorified andpraised Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his lovefor Allah. There was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, orworry. IT was filled with love only. Fear and awe were dead, and the fire was turned intocoolness, making the air pleasant. Those who love Allah as Abraham dodid not fear. Allah declared: Those (believers) unto whom thepeople (hypocrites) said: Verily! the people (pagans) have gatheredagainst you (a great army), therefore, fear them. but it onlyincreased them in Faith, and they said: Allah Alone is Sufficient forus, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us. So they returned with Grace and Bounty fromAllah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure ofAllah. Allah is the Owner of Great bounty. It is only Satan thatsuggests to you the fear of his Auliya (supporters and friends,polytheists, disbeliveers in the Oneness of Allah and in His MessengerMuhammad) so fear them not but fear Me if you are true believers. (Ch 3:173-175 Quran) The throng, the chiefs, and the priests sad watchingthe fire from a distance. It was burning their faces and nearlysuffocating them. It kept burning for such a long time that thedisbeliveers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burnout, they were greatly amazed to find Abraham coming out of the pituntouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but hiswas bright with the light and grace of Allah. The raging fire hadbecome cool for Abraham and had only charred the ropes which held him.He walked out of the fire as if he were walking out of a garden. Criesof astonishment were heard from the heathens. They wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. (Ch 21:70) This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool theflame of anger in their hearts. However after his event many of thepeople followed Abraham, although some kept their belief a secret forfear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers. Abraham had established a definite reasoning againstidolaters. Nothing was left for him except to reason against the peoplewho proclaimed themselves gods. When the king, Namrud, heard of Abrahams safe exitfrom the fire he became very angry. He feared that the status ofgodhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinaryhuman being. He summoned Abraham to the palace and held a dialogue withhim which Allah Almighty recounted:Have you not thought about himwho disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had givenhim the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: My Lord (Allah) is He Whogives life and causes death. He said: I give life and cause death.Abraham said: Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; thencause it you to rise from the west. So the disbeliever was utterlydefeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoersetc). (Ch 2:258 Quran) Abrahams fame spread throughout the entire kingdom.People talked about how he had been saved from the blazing fire and howhe had debated with the king and left him speechless. In the meantime,Abraham continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a greateffort to guide his people to the right path. He tried every means toconvince them. However in spite of his love and care for his people,they felt angry and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of hispeople shared his belief in Allah. The womans name was Sarah and shebecame his wife. The mans name was Lot and he became a prophet. When Abraham realized that no one else was going tobelieve in his call, he decided to emigrate. He left his people andtraveled with his wife and Lot to a city called Ur, then another calledHaran, and then to Palestine. Allah the Almighty told us: So Lut believed in him(Abrahams message of Islamic Monotheism). He (Abraham) said: I willemigrate for the sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All Mighty, the AllWise. (Ch 29:26) After Palestine, Abraham traveled to Egypt, callingpeople to believe in Allah wherever he traveled, judging fairly betweenpeople, and guiding them to truth and righteousness. Abu Hurairah narrated that Abraham (pbuh) did not tella lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah (Exaltedand Almighty) when he said: I am sick, (when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Abraham excused himself by saying he was sick. (Ch37:89 Quran) and when he said: (I have not done this but) the big idolhas done it. The (third was) that while Abraham and Sarah (his wife)were going (on a journey), they passed by (the territory of) a tyrant.Someone said to the tyrant: This man (Abraham is accompanied by a verycharming lady. SO, he sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarahsaying Who is this lady? Abraham said: She is my sister. Abrahamwent to Sarah said O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface ofthe earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I havetold him that you are my sister do not contradict my statement. thetyrant then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he tried to take ahold of her with his hand, but his hand got stiff and he was confounded.He asked Sarah: Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm you. SOSarah asked Allah to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take holdof her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as or stiffer thanbefore and he was more comfounded. He again requested Sarah: Pray toAllah for me, and I will not harm you. Sarah asked Allah to again, andhe became all right. He then called one of his guards who had broughther and said: You have not brought me a human being but have brought mea devil. The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah.Abraham, gesturing with his hand, asked: What has happened? Shereplied: Allah has spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoralperson and gave me Hajar for service. Abu Hurairah then addressed hislisteners saying: That Hajar was your mother, O Bani Ma is Sama (Arab,the descendants of Ishmael, Hajars son). Abrahams wife Sarah was sterile. She had been given anEgyptian woman Hajar, as a servant. Abraham had aged and his hair wasgray and after many years spent in calling people to Allah. Sarahthought she and Abraham were lonely because she could not have a child.Therefore, she offered her husband her servant Hajar in marriage.Hajar gave birth to her first son Ishmael (ismail) when Abraham was anold man. Abraham lived on earth worshipping Allah and callingpeople to monotheism, but he was journeying to Allah, knowing that hisdays on earth were limited and that they would be followed by death andfinally resurrection. The knowledge of life after death filled Abrahamwith peace and love and certitude. One day he begged Allah to show him how He brought thedead back to life. Allah commanded Abraham to take four birds, cutthem up and mingle their body parts, divide them into four portions andplace them on top of four different hills, then call back the birds inAllahs name. Abraham did as he was told. Immediately the mingledparts of the birds separated to join their original bodies in differentplaces and the birds flew back to Abraham. Almighty Allah revealed: Remember when Abraham said:My Lord Show me how You give life to the dead. Allah said: Do younot believe? Abraham said: Yes I believe, but to be stronger inFaith. HE said: Take four birds, the cause them to incline towardsyou (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces) and then put a portionof them on every hill and call them they will come to you in haste. Andknow that Allah is All Mighty and All Wise.(Ch 2:260 Quran)
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 17:34:24 +0000
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