One of the prophets given the most attention
in the Quran is the prophet Ibrahim (A.S). The Quran tells of him and his
unwavering belief in Allah, first calling him to reject his people and their
idolatry, and later to prove true to various tests which Allah places before
him.
In Islam, Ibrahim (A.S) is seen as a strict
monotheist who calls his people to the worship of Allah alone. For this
belief, he bears great hardships, even disassociating himself with his family
and people through migration to various lands. He is one who fulfills
various commandments of Allah through which he is tested, proving true to each
one.
Due to this strength of faith, the Quran
attributes the one and only true religion to be the "Path of Ibrahim (A.S)",
even though prophets before him, such as Noah, called to the same faith.
Because of his tireless act of obedience to Allah, He gave him the special
title of "Khaleel", or beloved servant, not given to any other
Prophet before. Due to the excellence of Ibrahim (A.S), Allah made
prophets from his progeny, from them Ishmael Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and Moses,
guiding people to the truth.
The lofty status of Ibrahim (A.S) is one
shared by Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike. The Jews see him to be
epitome of virtue as he fulfilled all the commandments although before they
were revealed, and was the first to come to the realization of the One True Allah.
He is seen as the father of the chosen race, the father of prophets due to
which Allah started his series of revelations. In Christianity, he is
seen as the father of all believers (Romans 4:11) and his trust in Allah and
sacrifice is taken as a model for later saints (Hebrews 11).
As Ibrahim (A.S) is given such importance, it
is worthy that one study his life and investigate those aspects which raised
him to the level which Allah gave him.
Although the Quran and the Sunnah do not given
the details of the whole life of Ibrahim (A.S), they do mention certain facts
worthy of note. As with other Quranic and biblical figures, the Quran and
Sunnah detail aspects of their lives as a clarification of some misguided
beliefs of previous revealed religions, or those aspects which contain certain
mottos and morals worthy of note and emphasis.
His Name
In the Quran, the only name given to Ibrahim
(A.S) is "Ibraheem" and "Ibrahaam", all sharing the
original root, b-r-h-m. Although in the Bible Ibrahim (A.S) is known as
Abram at first, and then Allah is said to change his name to Ibrahim (A.S), the
Quran has kept silent on this subject, neither affirming nor negating it.
Modern Judeo-Christian scholars do doubt, however, in story of the changing of
his names and their respective meanings, calling it "popular world
play". Assyriologists suggest that the Hebrew letter Hê (h) in the
Minnean dialect is written in stead of a long ‘a’ (ā), and that the difference
between Ibrahim (A.S) and Abram is merely dialectical.[1] The same can be said
for the names Sarai and Sarah, as their meanings are also identical.[2]
His Homeland
Ibrahim (A.S) is estimated to have been born
2,166 years before Jesus in or around the Mesopotamian[3] city of Ur[4], 200 miles southeast of present-day Baghdad[5]. His father was ‘Aazar’, ‘Terah’ or ‘Terakh’ in the
Bible, an idol worshipper, who was from the descendants of Shem, the son of
Noah. Some scholars of exegesis suggest that he may have been called Azar
after an idol he was devoted to.[6] He is likely to have been Akkadian, a
Semitic people from the Arabian Peninsula who settled in Mesopotamia sometime
in the third millennium BCE.
It seems as if Azar migrated along with some
of his relatives to the city of Haran in the early childhood of Ibrahim (A.S)
before the confrontation with his people, although some Judeo-Christian
traditions[7] tell it to be later in his life after he is rejected in
his native city. In the Bible, Haran, one of the brothers of Ibrahim
(A.S) is said to have died in Ur, "in the land of his nativity"
(Genesis 11:28), but he was much older than Ibrahim (A.S), as his other brother
Nahor takes Haran’s daughter as a wife (Genesis 11:29). The bible also
makes no mention of the migration of Ibrahim (A.S) to Haran, rather the first
command to migrate is that out of Haran, as if they had settled there before
(Genesis 12:1-5). If we take the first command to mean the emigration
from Ur to Canaan, there seems to be no reason that Ibrahim (A.S) would dwell
with his family in Haran, leaving his father there and proceeding to Canaan
thereafter, not to mention its geographical improbability [See map].
The Quran does mention the migration of Ibrahim
(A.S), but it does so after Ibrahim (A.S) disassociates himself from his father
and tribesmen due to their disbelief. If he had been in Ur at that time,
it seems unlikely that his father would go with him to Haran after disbelieving
and torturing him along with his townspeople. As to why they chose to
migrate, archaeological evidence suggests that Ur was a great city which saw
its rise and fall within the lifetime of Ibrahim (A.S)[8], so they may have been forced to leave due to environmental
hardships. They may have chosen Haran due to it sharing the same religion
as Ur[9].
The Religion of Mesopotamia
Archeological discoveries from the time of Ibrahim
(A.S) paint a vivid picture of the religious life of Mesopotamia. Its
inhabitants were polytheists who believed in a pantheon, in which each Allah
had a sphere of influence. The large temple dedicated to the Akkadian[10] moon Allah, Sin,
was the main centre of Ur. Haran also had the moon as the central Allahhead.
This temple was believed to be the physical home of Allah. The chief Allah
of the temple was a wooden idol with additional idols, or ‘Allahs’, to serve
him.
The Great Ziggurat of Ur, the temple of moon Allah
Nanna, also known as Sin. Shot in 2004, the photograph is courtesy of
Lasse Jensen.
Knowledge of Allah
Although Judeo-Christian scholars have
differed as to when Ibrahim (A.S) came to know Allah, at the age of three, ten,
or forty-eight[11], the Quran is silent in mentioning the exact
age at which Ibrahim (A.S) received his first revelation. It seems it
was, however, when he was young in age, as the Quran calls him a young man when
his people try to execute him for rejecting their idols, and Ibrahim (A.S)
himself said to have knowledge not available to his father when he called him
to worship Allah alone before his call spread to his people (19:43). The
Quran is clear, however, in saying that he was one of the prophets to whom a scripture
was revealed:
"Verily!
This is in the former Scriptures. The Scriptures of Ibrahim (A.S)
and Moses." (Quran 87:18-19)
Ibrahim (A.S) and His Father
Like those around him, Ibrahim (A.S)’s father
Azar (Terah or Terakh in the Bible), was an idol worshipper. Biblical
tradition[1] tells of him actually being a sculptor of them,[2] hence Ibrahim
(A.S)’s first call was directed to him. He addressed him with clear logic
and sense, understood by a young man like himself as well as the wise.
"And mention in
the Book (the Quran) Ibrahim (A.S), indeed he was a man of truth, a
Prophet. When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you
worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?
O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that
which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a
Straight Path." (Quran 19:41-43)
The reply from his father was rejection, an
obvious reply by any person challenged by another much younger than them, a
challenge made against years of tradition and norm.
"He (the father)
said: ‘Do you reject my Allahs, O Ibrahim (A.S)? If you do not stop, I
will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish
you.’" (Quran 19:46)
Ibrahim (A.S) and His People
After incessant attempts in calling his father
to leave the worship of false idols, Ibrahim (A.S) turned to his people seeking
to warn others, addressing them with the same simple logic.
"And recite to
them the story of Ibrahim (A.S). When he said to his father and his
people: "What do you worship?" They said: "We
worship idols, and to them we are ever devoted." He said: "Do they
hear you, when you call (on them)? Or do they benefit you or do they harm
(you)?" They said: "Nay, but we found our fathers doing so." He
said: "Do you observe that which you have been worshipping, you and your
ancient fathers? Verily! They are enemies to me, save the Lord of
all that exists; Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me; And it is He
Who feeds me and gives me to drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures
me; And Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me to life (again)."
(Quran 26:69-81)
In furthering his call that the only deity
which deserved worship was Allah, Almighty, he struck another example for his
people to ponder. The Judeo-Christian tradition tells a similar story,
but portrays it in the context of Ibrahim (A.S) himself coming to the
realization if Allah through the worship of these beings[3], not of him using it as an example for his people. In the
Quran, none of the Prophets are said to have associated others than Allah, even
if they were uninformed of the correct way before they were commissioned as
prophets. The Quran tells of Ibrahim (A.S):
"When the night
grew dark upon him, he beheld a star, and said, ‘This is my Lord!’ But
when it set, he said: ‘I love not things that set.’" (Quran 6:76)
Ibrahim (A.S) put forth to them the example of
the stars, a creation truly incomprehensible to humans at time, seen as
something greater than humanity, and many times having various powers
attributed to them. But in the setting of the stars Ibrahim (A.S) saw
their inability to appear as they desired, but rather only at night.
He then struck the example of something even
greater, a heavenly body more beautiful, larger, and that could appear at
daytime as well!
"And when he saw
the moon rising up, he exclaimed: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he
said: ‘Unless my Lord guides me, I surely shall become one of the folk who are
astray.’" (Quran 6:77)
Then as his culminating example, he struck an
example of something even bigger, one of the most powerful of creation, one
without which life itself was an impossibility.
"And when he saw
the sun rising, he cried: ‘This is my Lord! This is greater!’ But when
the sun set, he said, ‘O my people! Surely I am free from that which you
associate with Allah. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created
the heavens and the earth, away from idolatry, and I am not of those who
associate others with Allah.’" (Quran 6:78)
Ibrahim (A.S) proved to them that the Lord of
the worlds was not to be found in the creations that their idols represented,
but was, rather, the entity who created them and everything which they could
see and perceive; that the Lord does not necessarily need to be seen in order
to be worshipped. He is an All-Able Lord, not bound by limitations as the
creations found in this world are. His message was simple:
"Worship Allah,
and keep your duty to Him; that is better for you if you did but know.
You worship instead of Allah only idols, and you only invent a lie. Lo!
Those whom you worship instead of Allah own no provision for you.
So seek your provision from Allah, and worship Him, and give thanks to Him,
(for) to Him you will be brought back." (Quran 29:16-19)
He openly questioned their adherence to mere
traditions of their forefathers,
"He said: ‘Verily
you and your fathers were in plain error.’"
Ibrahim (A.S)’s path was to be filled with
pain, hardship, trial, opposition, and heartache. His father and people
rejected his message. His call fell on deaf ears; they would not
reason. Instead, he was challenged and mocked,
"They said:
‘Bring you to us the truth, or are you some jester?’"
In this stage in his life, Ibrahim (A.S), a
young man with a prospective future, opposes his own family and nation in order
to propagate a message of true monotheism, belief in the One True Allah, and
rejection of all other false deities, whether they be stars and other celestial
or earthly creations, or depictions of Allahs in the form of idols. He
was rejected, outcaste and punished for this belief, but he stood firm against
all evil, ready to face even more in the future.
"And (remember)
when his (Ibrahim (A.S)’s) Lord tried Ibrahim (A.S) with (various)
commandments, to which he proved true..." (Quran 2:124)
Then the time came when preaching had to be
accompanied with physical action. Ibrahim (A.S) planned a bold and
decisive blow at idolatry. The Quranic account is slightly different than
what is mentioned in Judeo-Christian traditions, as they say for Ibrahim
(A.S) to have destroyed his father’s personal idols.[1] The Quran tells
that he destroyed the idols of his people, kept at a religious altar. Ibrahim
(A.S) had hinted at a plan involving the idols:
"And, by Allah, I
shall circumvent your idols after you have gone away and turned your
backs." (Quran 21:57)
It was time for a religious festival, perhaps
dedicated to Sin, for which they left the town. Ibrahim (A.S) was invited
to attend the festivities, but he excused himself,
"And he glanced a
glance at the stars. Then said: ‘Lo! I feel sick!’"
So, when his peers left without him, it became
his opportunity. As the temple was deserted, Ibrahim (A.S) made his way
there and approached the gold-plated wooden idols, which had had elaborate
meals left in front of them by the priests. Ibrahim (A.S) mocked them in
disbelief:
"Then turned he
to their Allahs and said: ‘Will you not eat? What ails you that you speak
not?’"
After all, what could have deluded man to
worship Allahs of his own carving?
"Then he attacked
them, striking with his right hand."
The Quran tells us:
"He reduced them
to fragments, all except the chief of them."
When the temple priests returned, they were
shocked to see the sacrilege, the destruction of the temple. They were
wondering who could have done this to their idols when someone mentioned the
name of Ibrahim (A.S), explaining that he used to speak ill of them. When
they called him to their presence, it was for Ibrahim (A.S) to show them their
foolishness:
"He said:
‘Worship you that which you yourselves do carve when Allah has created you and
what you make?’"
Their anger was mounting; in no mood for being
preached to, they got straight to the point:
"Is it you who
has done this to our Allahs, O Ibrahim (A.S)?"
But Ibrahim (A.S) had left the largest idol
untouched for a reason:
"He said: ‘But
this, their chief has done it. So question them, if they can
speak!’"
When Ibrahim (A.S) so challenged them, they
were cast into confusion. They blamed each other for not guarding the
idols and, refusing to meet his eyes, said:
"Indeed you know well
these speak not!"
So Ibrahim (A.S) pressed his case.
"He said:
‘Worship you then instead of Allah that which cannot profit you at all, nor
harm you? Fie on you and all that you worship instead of Allah!
Have you then no sense?’"
The accusers had become the accused.
They were accused of logical inconsistency, and so had no answer for Ibrahim
(A.S). Because Ibrahim (A.S)’s reasoning was unanswerable, their response
was rage and fury, and they condemned Ibrahim (A.S) to be burned alive,
"Build for him a
building and fling him in the red hot fire."
The townspeople all helped in gathering wood
for the fire, until it was the largest fire they had ever seen. The young
Ibrahim (A.S) submitted to the fate chosen for him by the Lord of the Worlds.
He did not loose faith, rather the trial made him stronger. Ibrahim
(A.S) did not flinch in the face of a fiery death even at this tender age;
rather his last words before entering it were,
"Allah is
sufficient for me and He is the best disposer of affairs." (Saheeh
Al-Bukhari)
Here again is an example of Ibrahim (A.S)
proving true to the trials he faced. His belief in the True Allah was
tested here, and he proved that he was even prepared to surrender his existence
to the call of Allah. His belief was evidenced by his action.
Allah had not willed that this be the fate of Ibrahim
(A.S), for he had a great mission ahead of him. He was to be the father
of some of the greatest prophets known to humanity. Allah saved Ibrahim
(A.S) as a sign for him and his people as well.
"We (Allah) said:
‘O fire, be coolness and peace for Ibrahim (A.S).’ And they wished to set
a snare for him, but We made them the greater losers."
Thus did Ibrahim (A.S) escape the fire,
unharmed. They tried to seek revenge for their Allahs, but they and their
idols were in the end humiliated.
Modern archeological discoveries suggest the
high priestess was the emperor’s daughter. Naturally, she would have made
a point to make an example of the man who defiled her temple. Soon Ibrahim
(A.S), still a young man[1], found himself on trial, standing all alone
in front of a king, most probably King Nimrod. Even his father was not on
his side. But Allah was, as He always had been.
Dispute with a King
While Judeo-Christian traditionists clearly
assert that Ibrahim (A.S) was sentenced to the fire by the king, Nimrod, the
Quran does not elucidate this matter. It does however mention the dispute
which a king had with Ibrahim (A.S), and some Muslim scholars suggest that it
was this same Nimrod, but only after an attempt was made by the masses to kill Ibrahim
(A.S)[2]. After Allah had saved Ibrahim (A.S)
from the fire, his case was presented to the king, who out of him pompousness,
vied with Allah himself due to his kingdom. He debated with the young
man, as Allah tells us:
"Have you not
considered him who had an argument with Ibrahim (A.S) about his Lord, because Allah
had given him the kingdom?" (Quran 2:258)
Ibrahim (A.S)’s logic was undeniable,
"‘My Lord is He
Who gives life and causes death.’ He answered: ‘I give life and cause
death.’" (Quran 2:258)
The king brought forth two men sentenced to
death. He freed one and condemned the other. This reply of the king
was out of the context and utterly stupid, so Ibrahim (A.S) put forth another,
one which would surely silence him.
"Ibrahim (A.S)
said: ‘Lo! Allah causes the sun to rise in the east, so you cause it to
come up from the west.’ Thus was the disbeliever absolutely
defeated. And Allah guides not wrongdoing folk." (Quran 2:258)
Ibrahim (A.S) in Migration
After years of ceaseless calling, faced with
the rejection of his people, Allah commanded Ibrahim (A.S) to disassociate from
his family and people.
Indeed there has been
an excellent example for you in Ibrahim (A.S) and those with him, when they
said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you
worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us
and you, hostility and hatred forever, until you believe in Allah Alone."
(Quran 60:4)
At least two persons in his family did,
however, accept his exhortation - Lot, his nephew, and Sarah, his wife.
Thus, Ibrahim (A.S) migrated along with the other believers.
"So Lot believed
in him (Ibrahim (A.S)). He (Ibrahim (A.S)) said: ‘I will emigrate for the
sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.’"
(Quran 29:26)
They migrated together to a blessed land, the
land of Canaan, or Greater Syria where, according to Judeo-Christian
traditions, Ibrahim (A.S) and Lot divided their people west and east of the
land they had migrated to[3].
"And We rescued
him and Lot to the land which We have blessed for the worlds." (Quran
21:71)
It was here, in this blessed land, that Allah
chose to bless Ibrahim (A.S) with progeny.
"…We (Allah)
bestowed upon him Isaac, and (a grandson) Jacob. Each one We made
righteous." (Quran 21:72)
"And that was Our
Proof which We gave Ibrahim (A.S) against his people. We raise whom We
will in degrees. Certainly your Lord is All Wise, All Knowing. And
We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob, each of them We guided, and before him,
We guided Noah, and among his progeny David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and
Aaron. Thus do We reward the good doers. And Zachariah, and John
and Jesus and Elias, each one of them was of the righteous. And Ishmael
and Elisha, and Jonah and Lot, and each one of them We preferred above the
worlds (of men and jinn). And also some of their fathers and their
progeny and their brethren, We chose them, and We guided them to a Straight
Path. This is the Guidance of Allah with which He guides whomsoever He
will of His slaves. But if they had joined in worship others with Allah,
all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them. They are
those whom We gave the Book, the Understanding, and Prophethood…" (Quran
6:83-87)
Prophets, chosen for the guidance of his
nation:
"And We made them
leaders, guiding (humankind) by Our Command, and We inspired in them the doing
of good deeds, performing prayers, and the giving of Zakat and of Us (Alone)
they were worshippers." (Quran 21:73)
Ibrahim (A.S) in Canaan & Egypt
Ibrahim
(A.S) stayed in Canaan for several years going from city to city preaching and
inviting people to Allah until a famine forced him and Sarah to migrate to
Egypt. In Egypt was a despotic Pharaoh who had the passionate desire to
take possession of married women.[1] This Islamic account is strikingly
different than Judeo-Christian traditions, which say that Ibrahim (A.S) claimed
that Sarah[2] was his sister in order to save himself from the Pharaoh[3]. The Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem and honored Ibrahim
(A.S) for it, but when his house was stricken with severe plagues, he came to
know that she was the wife of Ibrahim (A.S) and chastised him for not telling
him so, thus banishing him from Egypt.[4]
Ibrahim (A.S) had known that Sarah would catch
his attention, so he told her that if the Pharaoh asked her, that she should
say that she is the sister of Ibrahim (A.S). When they entered his kingdom, as
expected, the Pharaoh asked about his relationship with Sarah, and Ibrahim
(A.S) replied that she was his sister. Although the answer did alleviate
some of his passion, he still took her captive. But the protection of the
Almighty saved her from his evil plot. When Pharaoh summoned Sarah to act
on his demented passions, Sarah turned to Allah in prayer. The moment
Pharaoh reached for Sarah, his upper body stiffened. He cried to Sarah in
distress, promising to release her if she would pray for his cure! She
prayed for his release. But only after a failed third attempt did he
finally desist. Realizing their special nature, he let her go and
returned her to her supposed brother.
Sarah returned while Ibrahim (A.S) was
praying, accompanied by gifts from the Pharaoh, as he had realized their
special nature, along with his own daughter Hagar as well, according to
Judeo-Christian traditions, as a handmaiden[5]. She had
delivered a powerful message to the Pharaoh and the pagan Egyptians.
After they had returned to Palestine,
Sarah and Ibrahim (A.S) continued to be childless, despite divine promises that
he would be granted a child. As the gifting of a handmaid by a barren
woman to her husband in order to produce offspring seems to be a common
practice of that day[6], Sarah suggested to Ibrahim (A.S) that he
take Hagar as his concubine. Some Christian scholars say of this event
that he actually took her as his wife[7]. Whichever case
it may be, in Jewish and Babylonian tradition, any offspring born to a
concubine would be claimed by the concubine’s former mistress and be treated
exactly the same as a child born to her[8], including matters of
inheritance. While in Palestine, Hagar bore him a son, Ishmael.
Ibrahim (A.S) in Mecca
When Ishmael was still nursing, Allah yet
again chose to test the faith of his beloved Ibrahim (A.S) and commanded him to
take Hagar and Ishmael to a barren valley of Bakka 700 miles southeast of
Hebron. In later times it would be called Mecca. Indeed it was a
great test, for he and his family had longed for such a time for offspring, and
when their eyes were filled with the joy of an heir, the commandment was
enacted to take him to a distant land, one known for its barrenness and hardship.
While the Quran affirms that this was yet
another test for Ibrahim (A.S) while Ishmael was still a baby, the Bible and
Judeo-Christian traditions assert that it was a result of the rage of Sarah,
who requested Ibrahim (A.S) to banish Hagar and her son when she saw Ishmael
"mocking"[9] at Isaac[10] after he was weaned. Since the typical age for
weaning, at least in Jewish tradition, was 3 years[11], this suggests that Ishmael was approximately 17 years of age[12] when this event
occurred. It seems logically impossible, that Hagar would be able to
carry a young man on her shoulders and take him hundreds of miles until she had
reached Paran, only then laying him, as the Bible says, down under a bush[13]. In these verses Ishmael is referred to by a different
word than the one used describing his banishment. This word indicates
that he was a very young boy, possibly a baby, rather than a youth.
So Ibrahim (A.S), after having sojourned with
Hagar and Ishmael, left them there with a skin of water and leather bag full of
dates. As Ibrahim (A.S) began walking away leaving them behind, Hagar
became anxious as to what was happening. Ibrahim (A.S) did not look
back. Hagar chased him, ‘O Ibrahim (A.S), where are you going,
leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we can enjoy,
nor is there anything here?’
Ibrahim (A.S) hurried his pace. Finally,
Hagar asked, ‘Has Allah asked you to do so?’
Suddenly, Ibrahim (A.S) stopped, turned back
and said, ‘Yes!’
Feeling a degree of comfort in this answer,
Hagar asked, ‘O Ibrahim (A.S), to whom are you leaving us?’
‘I am leaving you to Allah’s care,’ Ibrahim (A.S) replied.
Hagar submitted to her Lord, ‘I am
satisfied to be with Allah!’[14]
While she traced her way back to little Ishmael,
Ibrahim (A.S) proceeded until he reached a narrow pass in the mountain where
they would not be able to see him. He stopped there and invoked Allah in
prayer:
"Our Lord! I have
settled some of my offspring in a valley barren from any cultivation, by you Sacred
House, our Lord, so they may establish the prayer. So make the hearts of
people yearn towards them, and provide them with all types of fruits that they
may be grateful." (Quran 14:37)
Soon, the water and dates were gone and
Hagar’s desperation increased. Unable to quench her thirst or to
breastfeed her little baby, Hagar began searching for water. Leaving
Ishmael under a tree, she began climbing the rocky incline of a nearby
hill. ‘Maybe there is a caravan passing by,’ she thought to
herself. She ran between the two hills of Safa and Marwa seven times
looking for signs of water or help, later personified by all Muslims in
Hajj. Fatigued and distraught, she heard a voice, but could not locate
its source. Then, looking down in the valley, she saw an angel, who is
identified as Gabriel in Islamic sources[15], standing next to
Ishmael. The angel dug into the ground with his heel next to the baby,
and water came gushing out. It was a miracle! Hagar tried to make a
basin around it to keep it from flowing out, and filled her skin.[16] ‘Do not be
afraid of being neglected,’ the angel said, ‘for this is the
House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never
neglects his people.’[17] This well, called Zamzam, is flowing to this day in the
city if Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula.
It was not long afterwards that the tribe of
Jurham, moving from southern Arabia, stopped by the valley of Mecca after
seeing the unusual sight of a bird flying in its direction, which could only
mean the presence of water. They eventually settled in Mecca and Ishmael
grew up among them.
A similar account of this well is given in the
Bible in Genesis 21. In this account, the reason for moving away
from the babe was to avoid seeing him die rather than a search for help.
Then, after the baby had begun wailing with thirst, she asked Allah to relieve
her of seeing him die. The appearance of the well was said to be in
response to the crying of Ishmael, rather than her supplication, and no effort
from Hagar to find help is reported there. Also, the Bible tells that the
well was in the wilderness of Paran, where they dwelt afterwards.
Judeo-Christian scholars often mention that Paran is somewhere north of the
Sinai Peninsula, due to the mention of Mt. Sinai in Deuteronomy 33:2.
Modern biblical archaeologists, however, say that Mt. Sinai is actually in
modern day Saudi Arabia, which necessitates that Paran be there as well.
Ibrahim (A.S) Sacrifices His Son
It had been close to ten years since Ibrahim
(A.S) had left his wife and baby in Mecca in the care of Allah. After a
two month journey, he was surprised to find Mecca a lot different than how he
had left it. The joy of reunion was soon interrupted by a vision which
was to be the ultimate test of his faith. Allah commanded Ibrahim (A.S)
through a dream to sacrifice his son, the son he had had after years of prayers
and had just met after a decade of separation.
We know from the Quran that the child to be
sacrificed was Ishmael, as Allah, when giving the glad tidings of the birth of
Isaac to Ibrahim (A.S) and Sarah, also gave the glad tidings of a grandson,
Jacob (Israel):
"…But we gave her
glad tidings of Isaac, and after him, of Jacob." (Quran 11:71)
Similarly, in the biblical verse Genesis
17:19, Ibrahim (A.S) was promised:
"Your wife Sarah
shall bear you a son whose name shall be Isaac. I will establish my
covenant with him as an everlasting covenant [and] with his seed after
him."
Because Allah promised to give Sarah a child
from Ibrahim (A.S) and grandchildren from that child, it is neither logically
nor practically possible for Allah to command Ibrahim (A.S) to sacrifice Isaac,
since Allah neither breaks his promise, nor is He the "author of
confusion."
Although Isaac’s name is explicitly mention as
the one who was to be sacrificed in Genesis 22:2, we learn from other Biblical
contexts that it is clear interpolation, and the one to be slaughtered was
Ishmael.
"Thine Only Son"
In the verses of Genesis 22, Allah commands Ibrahim
(A.S) to sacrifice his only son. As all scholars of Islam, Judaism and
Christianity agree, Ishmael was born before Isaac. From this, it would
not be fit to call Isaac the only son of Ibrahim (A.S).
It is true that Judeo-Christian a scholars
often argue that since Ishmael was born to a concubine, he is not a legitimate
son. However, we have already mentioned earlier that according to Judaism
itself, the gifting of concubines from barren wives to their husbands in order
to produce offspring was a common, valid and acceptable occurrence, and the
child produced by the concubine would be claimed by the wife of the father[1], enjoying all rights as her, the wife’s, own child, including
inheritance. Furthermore, they would receive a double the share of other
children, even if they were "hated"[2].
In addition to this, it is inferred in the
Bible that Sarah herself would regard a child born to Hagar as a rightful heir.
Knowing that Ibrahim (A.S) had been promised that his seed would fill the
land between the Nile and the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18) from his own body
(Genesis 15:4), she offered Hagar to Ibrahim (A.S) in order that she be the
means to fulfill this prophecy. She said,
"Behold now, the
Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may
be that I may obtain children by her." (Genesis 16:2)
This is also similar to Leah and Rachel, the
wives of Jacob son of Isaac, giving their maids to Jacob to produce offspring
(Genesis 30:3, 6. 7, 9-13). Their children were Dan, Nepthali, Gad and
Asher, who were from the twelve sons of Jacob, the fathers of the twelve tribes
of Israelites, and therefore valid heirs[3].
From this, we understand that Sarah
believed that a child born to Hagar would be a fulfillment of the prophecy
given to Ibrahim (A.S), and be as if he was born to her own self. Thus,
according to this fact alone, Ishmael is not illegitimate, but a rightful heir.
Allah Himself regards Ishmael as a valid heir,
for, in numerous places, the Bible mentions that Ishmael is a "seed"
of Ibrahim (A.S). For example, in Genesis 21:13:
"And also of the
son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
There are many other reasons which prove that
it was Ishmael and not Isaac who was to be sacrificed, and Allah willing, a
separate article will be dedicated to this issue.
To continue with the account, Ibrahim (A.S)
consulted his son to see if he understood what he was commanded by Allah,
"So We gave him
the good news of a forbearing son. And when (his son) was old enough to
help in his daily affairs, (Ibrahim (A.S)) said: O my dear son, I have seen in
a dream that I must sacrifice you. So look, what think you? He
said: O my father! Do that which you are commanded. Allah willing,
you shall find me of the patient." (Quran 37:101-102)
Indeed if a person was told by their father
that they were to be killed due to a dream, it would not be taken in the best
of manners. One may doubt the dream as well as the sanity of the person,
but Ishmael knew the station of his father. The pious son of a pious
father was committed to submit to Allah. Ibrahim (A.S) took his son to
the place where he was to be sacrificed and laid him face down. For this
reason, Allah has described them in the most beautiful of words, painting a
picture of the essence of submission; one which brings tears to the eyes:
"And when they
both submitted (to the command of Allah), and he (Ibrahim (A.S)) laid him
(Ishmael) face down upon his forehead (in order to be sacrificed)." (Quran
37:103)
Just as Ibrahim (A.S)’s knife was poised to
descend, a voice stopped him
"We called to
him: O Ibrahim (A.S): You have indeed fulfilled the vision. Lo!
Thus do We reward the good. Lo! That verily was a clear
test." (Quran 37:104-106)
Indeed, it was the greatest test of all, the
sacrificing of his only child, one born to him after he had reached an old age
and years of longing for progeny. Here, Ibrahim (A.S) showed his
willingness to sacrifice all his belongings for Allah, and for this reason, he
was designated a leader of all humanity, one whom Allah blessed with a progeny
of Prophets.
"And when his Allah
tested Ibrahim (A.S) with various commands, and he proved true to each
one." He (Allah) said, indeed I have made you a leader of humanity.
He (Ibrahim (A.S)) said (requesting of Allah), ‘and from my progeny."
(Quran 2:124)
Ishmael was ransomed with a ram,
‘…then We redeemed him
with a momentous sacrifice.’ (Quran 37:107)
It is this epitome of submission and trust in Allah
which hundreds of millions of Muslims reenact every year during the days of
Hajj, a day called Yawm-un-Nahr – The Day of Sacrifice,
or Eid-ul-Adhaa - or the Celebration of Sacrifice.
Ibrahim (A.S) returned to Palestine, and upon
doing so, he was visited by angels who give him and Sarah the good news of a
son, Isaac,
"Lo! We
bring you good tidings of a boy possessing wisdom." (Quran 15:53)
It is at this time that he is also told about
the destruction of the people of Lot.
Ibrahim (A.S) and Ishmael Build the Kaaba
After a separation of several years, again the
father and son met. It was on this journey that the two built the Kaaba
on Allah’s command as a permanent sanctuary; a place laid for the worship of Allah.
It was here, in this same barren desert where Ibrahim (A.S) had left Hagar and
Ishmael earlier, that he supplicated to Allah to make it a place where they
would establish the prayer, free from idol worship.
"My Lord!
Make safe this territory, and preserve me and my sons from worshipping
idols. My Lord! Lo! They have led many of people
astray. But whoever follows me, he verily is of me. And whoever
disobeys me, still You are Forgiving, Merciful. Our Lord! Lo!
I have settled some of my posterity in an uncultivable valley near to
Your Holy House, our Lord! That they may establish proper worship; so
incline some hearts of men that they may yearn toward them, and provide You
them, with fruits in order that they may be thankful. Our Lord! Lo!
You know that which we hide and that which we proclaim. Nothing in
the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah. Praise be to Allah Who
has given me, in my old age, Ishmael and Isaac! Lo! My Lord is
indeed the Hearer of prayer. My Lord! Make me establish regular
prayer, and some of my posterity (also), our Lord! And accept my
prayer. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the
Day when the account is cast." (Quran 14:35-41)
Now, years later, Ibrahim (A.S) again in
reunion with his son Ishmael, were to establish the honored House of Allah, the
center of worship, to which direction people would their face when
offering prayers, and make it a site of pilgrimage. There are many
beautiful verses in the Quran describing the sanctity of the Kaaba and the
purpose of its building.
"And when we
assigned to Ibrahim (A.S) the place of the House: ‘Do not associate with Me
anything, and purify My House for those who circumambulate it, who stand in
prayer, and who bow, and prostrate themselves (all in prayer).’ And
proclaim the Pilgrimage (Hajj) among people, and they shall come to you on
foot, and on every lean camel. They shall come to you from every deep and
distant mountain highways." (Quran 22:26)
"And when We made
the House (the Kaaba) a resort for mankind and sanctuary, (saying): Take as
your place of worship the place where Ibrahim (A.S) stood (to pray). And
We took a covenant with Ibrahim (A.S) and Ishmael that they should purify My
House (the Kaaba) for those who compass it round, devote themselves (to
worship) in it, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer)."
(Quran 2:125)
The Kaaba is the first place of worship
appointed for all of humanity for the purpose of guidance and
blessing:
"Indeed the first
House (of worship) appointed for humanity is that at Bakka: Full of blessing
and of guidance for all the worlds. In it are Signs Manifest; (such as),
the Station of Ibrahim (A.S); whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage
thereto is a duty men owe to Allah,- those who have the ability." (Quran
22:26-27)
Prophet Muhammad , may the mercy and blessings
of Allah be upon him, said:
"Indeed this
place has been made sacred by Allah the day He created the heavens and the
earth, and it will remain so until the Day of Judgment." (Saheeh
Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
The Prayers of Ibrahim (A.S)
Indeed, the building of a sanctuary to be held
by all latter generations was one of the best forms of worship men of Allah
could do. They invoked Allah during their feat:
"Our Lord!
Accept from us (this duty). Lo! You, only You, are the
Hearer, the Knower. Our Lord! And make us Muslims (submissive to
You) and of our seed a Muslim nation (submissive to You), and show us our ways
of worship, and forgive toward us. Lo! You, only You, are the
Forgiving, the Merciful. Our Lord!" (Quran 2:127-128)
"And (remember)
when Ibrahim (A.S) said, "My Lord, make this city (Mecca) a place of
security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah
and the Last Day..." (Quran 2:126)
Ibrahim (A.S) also prayed that a prophet be
raised from the progeny of Ishmael, who would be the inhabitants this land, as
the progeny of Isaac would inhabit the lands of Canaan.
"And raise up in
their midst a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them Your
revelations, and shall instruct them in the Scripture and in wisdom and shall
purify them of their sins. Lo! You, only You, are the Mighty, the
Wise." (Quran 2:127-129)
The Kaabah built by Ibrahim (A.S) and Ishmael
and the Station of Ibrahim (A.S), which houses the footprint of Prophet Ibrahim
(A.S).
Ibrahim (A.S)’s prayer for a Messenger was
answered several thousand years later when Allah raised Prophet Muhammad among
the Arabs, and as Mecca was chosen to be a sanctuary and House of Worship for
all humanity, so too was the Prophet of Mecca one sent to all humanity.
It was this pinnacle of the life of Ibrahim
(A.S) which was the completion of his purpose: the building of a place of
worship for all of humanity, not for any chosen race or color, for the worship
of the One True Allah. Through the establishment of this house was the
guarantee that Allah, the Allah to Whom he called and for Whom he made endless
sacrifices, would be worshipped forever, without the association of any other Allah
with him. Indeed it was one of the greatest of favors bestowed upon any
human.
Ibrahim (A.S) & the Hajj Pilgrimage
Yearly, Muslims from around the world gather
from all walks of life, the answer to the prayer of Ibrahim (A.S) and the call
to Pilgrimage. This rite is called Hajj, and it commemorates many events
of Allah’s beloved servant Ibrahim (A.S) and his family. After circling
the Kaaba, a Muslim prays behind the Station of Ibrahim (A.S), the stone on
which Ibrahim (A.S) stood to build the Kaaba. After the prayers, a Muslim
drinks from the same well, called Zamzam, which flowed in answer to the Prayer
of Ibrahim (A.S) and Hagar, providing sustenance for Ishmael and Hagar, and was
the cause for the inhabitation of the land. The rite of walking between Safaa
and Marwah commemorates Hagar’s desperate search for water when she and her
baby were alone in Mecca. The sacrifice of an animal in Mina during Hajj,
and by Muslims around the world in their own lands, is after the example of Ibrahim
(A.S)’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah’s sake. Lastly, the
stoning of the stone pillars at Mina exemplifies Ibrahim (A.S)’s rejection of
satanic temptations to prevent him from sacrificing Ishmael.
The ‘Beloved servant of Allah’ about whom Allah
said, "I will make you a leader to the nations,"[1] returned to
Palestine and died there.
