Abraham known as the Khalilullah (Friend of Allah). (Nisâ 4: 125) He lived in the city of Urfa. During his time there were people worshipping to the stars. These people are called in the Holy Qur’an as Sabiins.
Abraham’s father was Azar. He used to make idols and sell them. The people of the area used to worship these idols. They had a temple for these idols in which they worshipped. Abraham once asked his father: “O my father! Why do you worship idols which can neither speak nor hear”? Azar became angry and warned Abraham not to ask such questions.
Abraham was an intelligent boy. It was strange for him to see people bowing down before these stone-made idols which could neither move nor talk. They could not even drive away the flies which sat on their eyes and nose. Abraham wondered why people worshipped such powerless statues.
After thinking much about it, he thought he would give the people a practical lesson. Once when people were busy celebrating a festival, Abraham went to the temple where the idols were kept.
He asked the idols: “How do you do? Here is the food and drink. Why do not you help yourselves?” The stone-idols were silent of course.
Abraham then took an axe and began to break all the idols except the biggest which he spared with a purpose.
When he had finished, he left the axe hanging round the shoulder of the biggest idol. (Anbiya 21: 58)
When people came to the temple to worship the idols, they were astonished to see the pitiful condition of their gods. “Who has done this mischief?” they asked themselves. They thought of Abraham the only one who talked disrespectfully about the idols. Soon Abraham was found out.
They asked him, “Who broke the idols?” Abraham calmly replied: “Ask the biggest idol. The people knew that the idols could not talk. They said: “O, Abraham do not you know that the idols can not talk?.” Abraham retorted: “Why do you worship them, then? They can not talk, move or understand anything. Why do you ask them for favour?”
The people had no answer. They were sure that it was Abraham who broke the idols. They could not let the matter go easily. They called people and decided to burn Abraham alive. They had to defend their gods. (Anbiya 21: 59,68)
Allah was in his favour and nothing could harm Abraham as he did the right thing. A big fire was set up and Abraham was thrown into it as the punishment of breaking the idols. But a Miracle happened!
The fire did no harm to him. Allah protected him, people were amazed to see it and they could not believe their eyes. But it was so, Abraham was happy and his persecutors felt sad and helpless. (Anbiya 21: 69-70)
Allah protected Abraham from fire. Because Allah was in his favour.
“Verily God will defend those who believe....” (Hajj 22: 38)
How did Abraham find Allah (cc) by using his reason?
Abraham’s enquiring mind was in search of Allah. He thought and thought. He, initially, thought that the shining Moon might be his Lord. But when the Moon vanished, He said to himself:
“No, a vanishing thing can not be my Lord.” He looked at the Sun and considered it as God. It also went down. Abraham said to himself, “No, this, also, can not be my Lord.” He came to the conclusion that only the ever-lasting, ever-present and All-Knowing, Almighty can be his Lord. The Stars, the moon, the sun can not be Lord.” (En’am 6: 76-79)
In this way Abraham given the light of truth by Allah was a messenger and servant of Allah. (Nahl 16: 120-122) ; (Maryam 19: 41)
What lessons can we learn from the story of the prophet Abraham?
It is narrated in the Qur’an that Abraham couldn’t get a baby from his first wife Sarah, so married to Hajar and promised God that if he had a son he would sacrifice him. After Ishmael was born and grew up, Abraham, as a result of this promise, began dreaming that God wanted him to keep his promise and to sacrifice his unique son. He thought that was an order from God, but in fact it was only a dream. When he attemted to sacrifice Ishmael Allah saved him and his son. This was a big test. Abraham loved Allah more than anything else. He was ready to sacrifice his son Ishmael on Allah’s command. Allah accepted Abraham’s readiness and sent a lamb to be sacrificed instead of Ishmael. (Saffat 37: 101-107) We observe the festival of Eid al-Adha to commemorate this event. After Abraham passed the test, God gave him Isaac as a reward son from Sarah who was bare until then.
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