The story of Ibrahim (Abraham)

Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was born in Babylon (present-day Iraq) in an era when idolatry reigned supreme. His people worshipped idols, the stars and various objects that they regarded as deities.

From a young age, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was endowed with exceptional intelligence and a critical mind. He watched his people prostrate before statues of stone and wood, incapable of defending themselves, of speaking or of bringing the slightest benefit.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) had chosen Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to be His Khalil (intimate friend) and granted him a pure nature (fitra) that naturally drove him toward the worship of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) alone, without associate.

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً ۖ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."

Surah Al-An'am, verse 74

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-An'am 6:74-83

Ibrahim (عليه السلام) decided to show his people the powerlessness of their idols. He waited until they all left for a festival, then entered their temple and smashed all the idols except the largest one.

When the people returned and discovered their broken idols, they asked who had done this. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) answered them ironically: "It is the largest of them that did this, ask them if they can speak!"

This intelligent answer confronted them with their own contradiction. How could they worship objects incapable of defending themselves or of speaking? This lesson revealed the absurdity of idolatry to any thinking mind.

فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَاذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَّهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ

So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question].

Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 58

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:51-67

Furious at seeing their idols destroyed and unable to refute the arguments of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), the people decided to punish him. They lit an immense pyre to throw Ibrahim (عليه السلام) into it.

They built a catapult to launch him into the fire, so intense was it. Even the angel Jibril (عليه السلام) offered his help to Ibrahim (عليه السلام), but the latter replied: "Allah is sufficient for me! And He is The best Guardian."

When Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was thrown into the fire, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) ordered the fire to be a salutary coolness (verse just below). The fire obeyed its Creator and burned only the bonds of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), miraculously freeing him.

قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."

Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 69

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:68-70

After the trial of the fire, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Sarah emigrated to Egypt. At that time, there reigned in Egypt a very unjust king who took for himself the women who pleased him.

When the king's soldiers met Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Sarah, they asked: "Who is this woman?" Ibrahim (عليه السلام) answered with wisdom: "She is my sister", speaking of their brotherhood in the Islamic faith. The Prophets are preserved from lying - Ibrahim (عليه السلام) said this to protect Sarah from the tyrant.

But Sarah was of exceptional beauty, the most beautiful woman of her time. Dazzled, the soldiers decided to take her to the king nonetheless.

Before the unjust king, Sarah remained firm in her faith. When the king tried to touch her, his hand was miraculously paralyzed! "Invoke your God for me and I will do you no harm!" he implored. Sarah invoked Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and his hand healed.

But the king, in his perversity, tried two more times to approach her, and each time his hand became paralyzed. At the third time, he finally understood that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) was protecting this pious woman.

Recognizing the high spiritual rank of Sarah, the king respectfully freed her and offered her a servant named Hajar. Sarah, happy with this company, taught Islam and faith to Hajar, who became her sister in religion.

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

Surah At-Talaq, verse 3

Authentic Sources

Sahih al-Bukhari 3358

Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Sarah and Hajar returned to Palestine. When they had returned, Sarah observed that Ibrahim (عليه السلام) had grown old but that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) had not yet granted him a child.

In her generosity and her wisdom, Sarah said to Ibrahim (عليه السلام): "Take Hajar, marry her, perhaps Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will give you a child through her." Ibrahim (عليه السلام) therefore married Hajar, and by the grace of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), she gave birth to the first child of Ibrahim (عليه السلام).

Ibrahim (عليه السلام) named his son Ismail (عليه السلام) - who would also become a prophet of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Following this birth, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) revealed to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to emigrate with Hajar and their son Ismail (عليه السلام) to a desert land: a valley without agriculture, without water, and without inhabitants. This valley was Mecca.

Ibrahim (عليه السلام) left Hajar and Ismail (عليه السلام) in this desolate valley with only a little water and a few dates. When Ibrahim (عليه السلام) began to walk away, Hajar ran after him, crying out: "O Ibrahim! To whom are you leaving us?" But Ibrahim (عليه السلام) did not answer, his heart heavy.

Hajar insisted: "O Ibrahim! Did Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) command you to do this?" Ibrahim (عليه السلام) then looked at her and answered: "Yes, my Lord the Most High commanded me to do it."

Hajar, in her total faith, answered with confidence: "Then go! Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will not let us down." As the Quran reminds us, it is in Allah that the believers must place their trust.

Ibrahim (عليه السلام), the friend of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), therefore left them in this desert land, between the mountains of this lifeless valley. He then climbed to the top of a mountain, raised his hands to the sky and invoked Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) for his descendants in this valley without agriculture.

Later, when Hajar's water and food ran out, little Ismail (عليه السلام) began to cry from hunger and thirst. Hajar went up a hill called As-Safa, then ran to another hill called Al-Marwa.

In her distress, she ran from one to the other, calling out: "Is there a helper? Is there anyone who answers my call?" She made this run seven times between As-Safa and Al-Marwa, ending her seventh run on Al-Marwa.

It was then that she heard a voice near her son. She saw the shadow of a person beside Ismail (عليه السلام), the child who was crying from hunger and thirst. Hajar ran to her child to help him.

There, it was the angel Jibril (عليه السلام) himself who had come down! He struck the earth with his wing and a spring of water appeared - the best of all the waters of the earth: the water of Zamzam. When a little water began to flow, Hajar rushed to this blessed spring to give her son a drink.

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.

Surah Ibrahim, verse 37

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Ibrahim 14:37, Sahih al-Bukhari 3364

When Ismail (عليه السلام) reached the age of working with his father, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) saw in a dream that he was sacrificing his beloved son. The dreams of the prophets are a revelation from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), and Ibrahim (عليه السلام) knew that he had to obey.

With a heavy heart but submitted to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), Ibrahim (عليه السلام) spoke to his son about what he had seen. Ismail (عليه السلام), raised in piety and obedience, answered with a wisdom beyond his age: "O my father, do what you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) wills, among the steadfast."

This answer showed the perfection of the education that Ibrahim (عليه السلام) had given his son, and how love for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) surpassed all other bonds, even the strongest family ties.

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."

Surah As-Saffat, verse 102

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:99-105

And when they had both submitted to the order of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and Ibrahim (عليه السلام) had laid his son on his forehead, he sharpened his blade. When the knife was well sharpened, the son said to his father: "O my dear father! Turn my face toward the ground."

The father asked: "But why, O my son?"

"So that you do not see my face, otherwise you will hesitate", replied Ismail (عليه السلام).

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah As-Saffat 37:103-109

One day, Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) sat down beside his son Ismail and said: "O my son! Allah The Most High has given me an order." "Which one? O my father!" asks Ismail (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم). Allah The Most High orders me to build a House in this valley. This House will be built for the worship of Allah, A House of God.

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:125-129, Surah Al 'Imran 3:96-97

When the House was built (the Kaaba), Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) ordained a commandment to Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم). He said O Ibrahim call out! What shall I call out O Lord asked Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم). Call the people to the pilgrimage answered Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Call out so that all humanity hears you, so that they come as pilgrims to this House, so that they visit this House.

Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) then said: "O my Lord! Who will hear me? Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said: O Ibrahim! You make the call, and We, We transmit it! We transmit your voice to the people, it is enough that you call them O Ibrahim.

And indeed, Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) stood up on a mountain and called out, saying: O people! O people! Allah has prescribed the pilgrimage for you, so come as pilgrims. Ibn Abbas said in explanation: Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) made this call resound through all that is between the sky and the earth. And even in our days, people hear the call of Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم).

To this day, people answer the call of Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم), the friend of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). To this day, people come from America, from Asia, from Africa, from Australia and from everywhere in the world. People come as pilgrims to Mecca saying: "I answer your call, O Lord, I answer your call. I answer your call, You have no associate, I answer your call. Truly, praise and grace belong to You as well as sovereignty. You have no associate".

Today people come as pilgrims to The sacred House of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), they circle around Mecca seven times, they run between As-Safa and Al-Marwa retracing the steps of the mother of Ismail (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم). And when they throw the stones, they commemorate the gestures of Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم). And when they sacrifice the sheep, they commemorate Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) in his act of sacrifice. Thus people follow the steps of Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم), the friend of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ ۝ لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ

And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass - That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah

Surah Al-Hajj, verse 27

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Hajj 22:27, Ibn Abbas, Sahih al-Bukhari

One day, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) made a request to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), and this request was a particular one. Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was the friend of God, he said: "O Lord! Show me how you resurrect the dead".

Authentic Sources

Quran: Surah Al-Baqarah 2:260