Muslims honor and respect the Prophet Abraham (known in the Arabic
language as Ibrahim/Ibraheem). The Quraan describes him as
"A Man of Truth, a Prophet"
(Quraan 19:41).
Many aspects of Islamic worship, including pilgrimage and prayer,
recognize and honor the importance of the life and teachings of this Great Prophet
Ibraheem
[Salutations
upon Him]
The Quraan sums up the view of the Prophet Ibraheem among Muslims:
"Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole
self to Allaah, does good, and follows the way of Ibraheem/Abraham the true in
Faith? For Allaah did take Ibraheem for a friend"
(Quraan 4:125).
Father
of Monotheism
Prophet Ibraheem, known as Abraham in the Hebrew Bible, was given
the title ‘خليل الله’ Khaleel ul Laah’,
which means ‘The friend of Allaah’. Prophet Ibraheem [Salutation
Upon Him] was the forefather of many great
Prophets and is held in high esteem by all the major revealed religions, Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.
Prophet Ibraheem was the father of other important honorable Prophets
Prophet Ismael and Prophet Ishaaq/Isaac and the grandfather of Prophet Jacob
/Yaqoob. He is also one of the ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad [Salutation on
all of them].
The Quraan repeatedly describes the Prophet Ibraheem/Abraham as a
man who believed in One True God, and was a righteous example for us all to
follow:
"Prophet Ibraheem/Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian;
but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allaah (which is Islam), and he
joined not gods with Allaah"
(Quraan 3:67).
Say: "Verily, my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight,
- a religion of right, - the path (trod) by Ibraheem/Abraham the true in Faith,
and he (certainly) joined not gods with Allaah"
(Quraan 6:161).
"Ibraheem/Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allaah,
(and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with Allaah. He showed his
gratitude for the favors of Allaah, who chose him, and guided him to a Straight
Way. And We gave him Good in this world, and he will be, in the Hereafter, in
the ranks of the Righteous. So, We have taught thee the inspired (Message),
"Follow the ways of Ibraheem/Abraham the True in Faith, and he
joined not gods with Allaah"
(Quraan 16:120-123).
Prophet Ibraheem belongs to the 25 Prophets mentioned in the Quraan.
He is also among the five Prophets of Ulul’azm (Arch-Prophets) as these five
prophets have books and Divine Religious laws. These five Prophets of Allaah
are Prophet Noah /Nuh, Prophet Abraham / Ibraheem, Prophet Moses / Prophet Musa,
Jesus /Eesaa, and Prophet Muhammad
[Salutation to
all of them]
Prophet Ibraheem [Salutation
upon Him] is mentioned by
name 69 times in the Quraan.
There are different narrations, by different Islamic Scholars,
about the age of Prophet Ibraheem some say that he lived for 169 years, some
say he lived on earth for 175 years and some says that Prophet Ibraheem’s age
was 195 years. However, all narrations suggest that Ibraheem lived for more
than 150 years on earth.
Prophet Ibraheem [Salutation Upon Him] was a Great Prophet who was tested
by Almighty Allaah many times and despite severe trials and challenges, Prophet
Ibraheem was shown as a servant who kept his promise and always showed a
respectable attitude. As Allaah says in Al-Quraan:
“And of Ibraheem /Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that
(what Allaah ordered him to do or convey)”
(Surah An-Najam: 53:37)
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY LIFE:
Prophet Ibraheem was the son of Aazar ibn Nahur. He 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, Prophet Ibraheem 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. Allaah has
gifted Ibraheem with spiritual understanding and gave him wisdom from an early age. Allaah says in Al-Quraan:
“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 Allaah …)”
Quraan Surah Anmbiya: 21:51
During his early childhood, Prophet Ibraheem 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. Prophet Ibraheem 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. Prophet Ibraheem 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.
PROPHET IBRAHEEM’S HATRED FOR THE IDOLS/STATUES:
Prophet Ibraheem 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? Prophet Ibraheem’s people had
a big temple full of idols. The largest
statues were placed in the middle of the temple. Prophet Ibraheem, 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 Prophet Ibraheem yet Prophet Ibraheem never stopped displaying his hatred
and disdain for them.
One day Prophet Ibraheem 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 Prophet Ibraheem 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 Prophet Ibraheem’s
voice. Then the priest began to show his anxiety and anger. Suddenly the father of Ibraheem Prophet Ibraheem
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 Prophet Ibraheem to
his bed and tried to put him to sleep. However, he did not want to sleep. He
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.
PROPHET IBRAHEEM [Alaiehis Salaam] DISCOVERS ALLAAH:
[Salutation Upon Him]
In the cave from where view of the sky was clear, Prophet Ibraheem [Alaiehis Salaam] spend
some time looking at the sky. He was
looking at planets and stars which were worshiped 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 and
was astonished that these celestial bodies were worshipped by men whereas they had
been created to worship and obey their Creator. Prophet Ibraheem came back to
his house and asked his father and also his people who worshipped these
celestial bodies. As Allaah narrates Prophet Ibraheem words in Al-Quraan:
“And (remember) when Ibraheem said to his father Azar: “Do you take
idols as aliha (gods)? Verily, I see you
and your people are in manifest error.” Thus, did We show Ibraheem 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 Allaah. 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 Allaah.”
[Surah Al-Anaam (6: 77 to 79)]
And his people argued with him. He said:
“Do you argue with me concerning Allaah 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 Allaah 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 Ibraaheem 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, Prophet Ibraheem clarified to his people that these
celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshipped as partners
with Allaah. 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, Allaah 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 Allaah. Allaah Says in Al-Quraan:
“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 Allaah, who created
them, if it should be Him that you worship.”
[Surah Fussilat: 41:37]
Prophet Ibraheem did his best to make his people heedful to the
belief in the oneness of Allaah 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]
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