Historical figures in Islam - Hazrat Ibrahim

 Stories/Life of Messengers of Allah are certainly always a good example for our life today. So learn to understand the various wisdom of their life would be very useful for us.

Ibrahim, known as Abraham in the Hebrew Bible, was given the title ‘ خليل الله’ KHALILULLAH’, which means ‘the friend of Allah’. Ibrahim (A.S.) was the forefather of many great Prophets and is held in high esteem by all the major revealed religions i-e Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Ibrahim (A.S.) belongs to the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran. 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 Allah are Noah [Nuh (A.S.)], Abraham [Ibrahim (A.S.)], Moses [Musa (A.S.)], Jesus [Esa (A.S.)], and Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.).

Ibrahim (A.S.) is mentioned by name 69 times in Quran.

There are different narrations, by different Islamic Scholars, about the age of Ibrahim (A.S.). Some say that he lived for 169 years, some say he lived on earth for 175 years and some says that Ibrahim’s (A.S.) age was 195 years. However, all narrations suggest that Ibrahim (A.S.) lived form more than 150 years on earth.

Ibrahim (A.S.) is a prophet who is tested by Allah and despite severe trials and challenges, Ibrahim (A.S.) was shown as a servant who kept his promise and always showed a respectable attitude. As Allah says in Al-Quran:

“And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (what Allah ordered him to do or convey)” (Surah An-Najam: 53:37)

CHILDHOOD AND EARLY LIFE:

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’S (A.S.) HATRED FOR THE IDOLS/STATUES:

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.

IBRAHIM (A.S.) DISCOVERS ALLAH:

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 (A.S.) REASONS WITH HIS FATHER:

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.) BREAKS THE IDOLS:

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.

THE IDOLATERS QUESTION IBRAHIM (A.S.):

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: