- Rendered his own self to the blazing fire
- Offered his beloved son for sacrifice
- Submitted his heart wholeheartedly to the Almighty
The man
who gelled into 1.6 billion Muslims and their religious duties around the world
When
everyone wanted to take credit of him, but openly declared that he is a Muslim
As the
Quran says,
مَا كَانَ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمُ
يَهُوۡدِيًّا وَّلَا نَصۡرَانِيًّا وَّ لٰكِنۡ كَانَ حَنِيۡفًا مُّسۡلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ
مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ
Ibrahim
was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a
Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. (Quran 3:67)
The word
Ibrahim - أب رحيم in its origin which means “Merciful Father”; Nick named أبو الضيفان meaning “Father of Guests”
Prophet
Adam (peace be upon him) is the father of mankind whereas Ibrahim (peace be
upon him) is the father of the prophets
Relationship
between prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) and this Muslim ummath is very traditional and solid
Hajj,
one of the five pillars of Islam which every affordable Muslim enjoins on face
of the earth is prescribed only because of Ibrahim (pbuh); the blessed water
“Zam Zam” dates back 7000 years is only due to Ibrahim, will not expire until
the judgment day
About
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) in Quran:
The name
“Ibrahim” mentioned 69 times in the glorious Quran, and there is a separate
chapter named “Ibrahim”
History
of Ibrahim (pbuh) narrated in 25 chapters. 63 Quranic verses speak about him.
Allah (SWT) relates greatest sacrifice of this prophet, whom He taken as His
companion (referred by the title "خليل
الله" /
Friend of Allah) to teach a lesson to this final ummath
ان ابراهيم كان امة
Verily, Ibrahim was a nation (Quran: 16:120)
The
sacrifice and religious duty of individual Ibrahim (pbuh) is equivalent to the
ones done by entire nation
“Ibrahim
(PHUB) was a whole community/ nation by himself” for at that time he was the
only Muslim in the whole world upholding the banner of Islam, while rest of the
world was under falsehood. As a pious servant of Allah, performed the mission
which was to be carried out by whole nation; he wasn’t an individual but
instead an institution of himself
Three
trials in the lifetime of Ibrahim (phuh):
1.
Tested his own self with the fire
Ibrahim
(pbuh), father of rationality, started the search for his creator at the age of
10. Contemplated on the sun, moon and the star; when they disappeared,
concluded that these are just objects and there will be one and only God originator
of all these creations
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ
عَلَيۡهِ الَّيۡلُ رَاٰ كَوۡكَبًا ۚ قَالَ هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَ
قَالَ لَاۤ اُحِبُّ الۡاٰفِلِيۡنَ
So when the night
covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my
lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear” (Quran 6:76)
فَلَمَّا رَاَالۡقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ
هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَ قَالَ لَٮِٕنۡ لَّمۡ
يَهۡدِنِىۡ رَبِّىۡ لَاَ كُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الضَّآ لِّيۡنَ
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” (Quran 6:77)
فَلَمَّا رَاٰ الشَّمۡسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ
هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ هٰذَاۤ اَكۡبَرُۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَتۡ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اِنِّىۡ
بَرِىۡٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشۡرِكُوۡنَ
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. (Quran 6:78)
اِنِّىۡ وَجَّهۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ لِلَّذِىۡ فَطَرَ
السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَ حَنِيۡفًا وَّمَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَ
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. (Quran 6:79)
After this truth,
invited his father towards Allah, lord of the worlds at the age of 12
In third stage,
extended this invite to his society at the age of 14
Finally Ibrahim
(pbuh) act angered the then King Namrud, created huge fire pit, and ordered
Ibrahim to be thrown into it. Ibrahim (pbuh) aged 16 at that time
It took many
days to kindle that fire and when it reached its maximum level, they thrown
Ibrahim (pbuh) into it. But he wasn’t feared or worried, rather stayed calm and
said,
حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل
Allah is sufficient for me. He in whom I trust
Allah (swt)
saved him, by ordering the fire to be as comfort on Ibrahim. Quran relates this
incident,
قلنا يانار كوني بردا وسلاما على ابراهيم
Allah said: “O Fire, be comfort and safety
upon Ibrahim” (Quran 21:69)
2. Second Trial
– Tested in his wealth
When Allah (swt)
awarded the title خليل الله (Friend of Allah) to Ibrahim
(pbuh), the angels sought to Allah, You have blessed him with children, family, and all the wealth. How
can You take him as friend when he lives with all the comfort and luxury?
Don’t judge My
sincere servant through external appearance, rather look at his heart, you find
none other but Me alone. If want to test, go ahead.
Angel Jibrael
(Gabreal) descended to earth in the form of human and met Ibrahim (pubh) whose
battle dogs counted more than 12000 for safeguarding his flock of sheep. Just
imagine the mighty numbers of his sheep & goat.. When Jibrael asked to whom
does all the wealth belongs to? All these belongs to Allah alone, and it’s been
given to me now. When Jibrael asked for one goat, Ibrahim wanted him to teach a
Dhikr so that will give one third of all the goats & sheeps. Jibrael taught
him سبوح قدوس ربنا ورب الملائكة والروح.
Ibrahim (pbuh) wanted him to repeat so that offered to give two-third of it.
Again wanted to do so, later offered all the wealth to him. When nothing left
out with Ibrahim (pbuh), requested to take him as a slave in exchange of reciting that Dhikr one more time
3. Third Trial –
Tested to sacrifice his son
Ibrahim (pbuh)
said, “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you. So look
what you think!” – He told his son that in order to make it easier for him, and
also to test his patience and resolve, at a young age, in obeying Allah and
obeying his father.
“Ismael said: “O
my father! Do that which you are commanded…” – obey the command of Allah and
sacrifice me.
“if Allah wills,
you shall find me of the patient.” – I will be patient and will seek the reward
for that with Allah.’
On hearing this,
Ibrahim (pbuh) thanked Allah for giving such a wonderful offspring.
When Ibrahim
placed razor sharp sword on Ismael neck to slaughter, Allah said to the Angels,
Look at my servant, how sincere is he to My command, ready to sacrifice his own
son for Me. Then Allah said, “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!- the
purpose of your dream has been fulfilled by your laying down your son to
sacrifice.
Ibrahim received
a sheep and was called by Allah:
"O Ibrahim!
You have confirmed the Vision Thus indeed do We reward those who do right This
is indeed the manifest trial!" (37:104-105)
-----
Thank you!!
Arabic
Translation Centre (ATC)
www.arabictranslationcentre.com
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