In all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Prophet Ibrahim is considered a great prophet, a leader of mankind, the father of prophets and messengers, and the Friend of God. Belief in Prophet Ibrahim is universal across the three major faiths. Two of the five pillars of Islam are linked with belief in Prophet Ibrahim. In the five daily prayers, Muslims mention Prophet Ibrahim's name, as they mention Prophet Muhammad's name too (peace and blessings of Allah upon them both). Pilgrims performing the Haj journey are following in the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim and his wife, Hajar. Before the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah bids us farewell, we should take the time to revisit the story of Prophet Ibrahim: his exceptional character, the tests he faced, and his unwavering belief in Allah. He is one of the five resolute prophets, who are Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Esa (Jesus), and Muhammad (peace be upon them). Prophet Ibrahim was given by Allah in the Holy Qur'an several titles, including: the Friend of Allah, an imam or leader, an ummah or a nation in and of himself. How can one man, one person, be equivalent to an entire nation? From a young age, Prophet Ibrahim was a thinker. He contemplated on the wonders of the Universe, on the stars, sun, and moon. He knew that the universe and everything in it was the creation of One Supreme God. He sought the truth and he questioned the status quo of his society: why did people worship idols who could bring neither benefit nor harm? How could people make a statue with their own hands and then worship it as a deity? During Prophet Ibrahim's time, his people worshiped idols of stone and wood; others worshiped the planets, stars, sun and moon; others worshiped their kings and rulers. Prophet Ibrahim invited his people and his father to the worship of One God. Some scholars say that it may have been his uncle, and not his father. In any case, Prophet Ibrahim had tremendous love and respect for this person; he was never disrespectful. Even when he threatened to punish Prophet Ibrahim and stone him, Prophet Ibrahim gently said, {Peace be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.} (Chapter 19, verse 47) Never was Prophet Ibrahim disrespectful, arrogant, or harsh. It pained Prophet Ibrahim to see his father (or uncle) pray to idols. He debated with reasoning and logic, but to no avail. To show the idol worshipers their ignorance and folly in worshiping inanimate, man-made idols, Prophet Ibrahim devised a plan. There was a grand celebration just outside the city which was attended by all the people. Prophet Ibrahim waited until the city was empty; then he cautiously went to the temple that was filled with idols. The streets were empty and the temple was deserted, for everyone had gone to the festival. After having exhausting all other ways to show his people the truth, Prophet Ibrahim raised his axe and smashed the idols which were worshiped as gods by the people. He destroyed them all except the largest one, on which he hung his axe. When the people returned, they were shocked to see their gods shattered into pieces. They suspected that Prophet Ibrahim was behind this act, so they summoned him. When he was brought to trial and questioned, Prophet Ibrahim told them to ask the biggest idol who had done this. Infuriated, they said that everyone knew that the idol could not speak or move, which proves how intelligent Prophet Ibrahim's plan was to show the people that it was absurd to worship lifeless objects as God. The people were too angry and too arrogant to admit that he was right. They wanted to punish Prophet Ibrahim. They decided to throw Ibrahim into the biggest fire they could build. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood, and ignited a fire so high its flames reached the sky and so intense the people had to stand away. Prophet Ibrahim was put on a catapult and the chief priest gave the order to cast Ibrahim into the fire. In this desperate moment, Prophet Ibrahim remained firm in his faith and trust in Allah alone. Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into the blazing fire, but Allah had commanded the fire to turn into coolness and safety. Prophet Ibrahim sat amidst the flames, as if he was sitting in a cool garden. Ibn Kathir wrote, “Prophet Ibrahim glorified and praised Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his love for Allah. There was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, or worry. It was filled with love only.” We learn yet another lesson from Prophet Ibrahim: those who have firm belief and trust in Allah do not fear tribulations. When one sincerely believes in Allah, the help of Allah will come. Prophet Ibrahim walked out of the fire triumphant, untouched by the fire, his face bright. After witnessing this miracle, some people followed Prophet Ibrahim although most kept their belief secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of their rulers. This angered the people's king, Nimrud, who claimed to be God and ordered his subjects to worship him. King Nimrud disputed with Ibrahim on the oneness of God. Nimrud said that he could give and take life. The tyrant king brought two slaves and ordered one of them to be killed and the other to be spared, thus claiming that he had granted life to one and taken life from the other. Prophet Ibrahim said, “It is Allah Who causes the sun to rise from the East, so can you make it rise from the West?” Of course, Nimrud was incapable of rising to this challenge. In spite of Prophet Ibrahim's efforts, not many people accepted monotheism. His wife, Sarah, believed in him and together they migrated to Palestine and then to Egypt so Prophet Ibrahim could continue to spread the message of Allah. Sarah and Prophet Ibrahim were advancing in age and they still had no children. Sarah gave her slave girl, Hajar, as a gift to Prophet Ibrahim to marry in hopes that Hajar would bear a child. And she did; Hajar gave birth to a baby boy, Ismail. When Prophet Ibrahim took his wife, Hajar, and infant son to a barren, unoccupied land, near Makkah, and was about to leave them there, Hajar was distressed. Hajar asked, “Is this by Allah's command?” When Prophet Ibrahim replied, “Yes”, Hajar said, “Then Allah will not waste us.” Again, we see that not only Prophet Ibrahim, but also his wife had unfaltering trust in Allah. Upon leaving his wife and son, Prophet Ibrahim prayed to Allah, {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.} (Chapter 14, verse 37) Prophet Ibrahim also prayed to Allah to keep his offspring on the straight path, and he prayed to Allah to send a Messenger from among them. The prayers of the noble Prophet Ibrahim were answered by Allah. Makkah, a once uninhabited area became a bustling city, now millions of people flocking there each year. Allah made Prophet Ibrahim's offspring righteous and from him came a long line of prophets. Fourteen years after Ismail was born, the angels came with the glad news that Sarah is pregnant, and she too had a son, Ishaq. From Ishaq, came Prophet Yaqub, Yusuf - and all other prophets descended from him. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is from the descendents of Ismail, who settled down and remained in Makkah after Hajar died. The story of Hajar running between the hills of Safa and Marwa in search of food and water for her baby boy, Ismail, is well known. To this day, Muslims performing Haj walk seven times between the Safa and Marwa, in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail. The stone on which the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim have been preserved remains in Makkah today, and is the same stone that Prophet Ibrahim stood on when building the Kaabah with his son, Ismail. During a sacred month like Dhul Hijjah, and when in holy places, we should seize the opportunity to keep the story of Prophet Ibrahim alive. There is more to the story of this great prophet, the father of prophets, and we will continue the story, God willing.
