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| {{Short description|Islamic view of Abraham}} | |||
| ''For information on the racehorse, see ]'' | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}} | |||
| {{Religious text primary|date=December 2024}} | |||
| {{Infobox person | |||
| | image = File:Hebron, Cave of Machpela (14393237461).jpg | |||
| | caption = Exterior view of the ] in the ], the ] | |||
| | honorific_prefix = {{smaller|]}} | |||
| | name = ʾIbrāhīm <br /> {{lang|ar|إِبْرَاهِيْمُ}} <br /> ] | |||
| | other_names = ''Khalīlullāh'' (Friend of God) | |||
| | birth_name = | |||
| | birth_place = ], [[Mesopotamia|Bilād | |||
| ar-Rāfidayn]] | |||
| | birth_date = 1996 ] | |||
| | known_for = *Being an ancestor of the ] and the ] | |||
| *Building the ] | |||
| | death_place = 1821 ] (aged 175) ], ] | |||
| | resting_place = ], Hebron | |||
| | children = ] (]), ] (]) | |||
| | parents = ] (father)<ref name="ReferenceA">'']'', 7/194,95.</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">''],'' vol. 2, p. 100.</ref><ref name="ReferenceC">''],'' vol. 3, p. 43.</ref><ref name="Niazi">{{Cite web |last=Niazi |first=Yama |date=2022-10-06 |title=Will All Believers and Their Non-Muslim Parents Be Forgiven? |url=https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/will-all-believers-and-their-non-muslim-parents-be-forgiven/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615104746/https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/will-all-believers-and-their-non-muslim-parents-be-forgiven/ |archive-date=2023-06-15 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Seekers Guidance |language=en |quote=The Prophet Ibrahim’s actual father was a Muslim. His name is given as Tarakh by historians.}}</ref> Mahalath (mother) | |||
| | predecessor = ] | |||
| | successor = ] | |||
| | spouse = {{plainlist| | |||
| * ] (]), | |||
| * ], | |||
| * ] }} | |||
| | relatives = ] (nephew) | |||
| }} | |||
| ]{{Efn|{{langx|ar|إِبْرَاهِيْمُ|ʾIbrāhīm}}; {{IPA|ar|ʔɪbraːˈhiːm}}; the name appears in early Quranic manuscripts in two different spellings, either أبرهَم (Abraham) or إبرهيم (Ibrahim)}} was a ]<ref name="Sajjadi 2015">{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Sajjadi |author-first=Sadeq |year=2015 |orig-date=2008 |title=Abraham |translator-last=Negahban |translator-first=Farzin |editor1-last=Madelung |editor1-first=Wilferd |editor2-last=Daftary |editor2-first=Farhad |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Islamica |volume=1 |location=] and ] |publisher=] |doi=10.1163/1875-9831_isla_COM_0028 |isbn=978-90-04-16860-2 |issn=1875-9823}}</ref><ref>{{qref|87|19|b=y}}</ref> of ] according to Islam, and an ancestor to the ] and ].<ref name="Sajjadi 2015"/><ref name=bbc>{{cite news |last=Siddiqui |first=Mona |author-link=Mona Siddiqui |title=Ibrahim – the Muslim view of Ibrahim |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ibrahim.shtml |work=Religions |publisher=] |access-date=3 February 2013}}</ref> Abraham plays a prominent role as an example of faith in ], ], and ].<ref name="Sajjadi 2015"/> In ] belief, Abraham fulfilled all the commandments and trials wherein God nurtured him throughout his lifetime. As a result of his unwavering faith in ], Abraham was promised by God to be a leader to all the nations of the world.<ref name="q2s124">{{qref|2|124|b=y}}</ref> The ] extols Abraham as a model, an exemplar, obedient and not an idolater.<ref>{{qref|16|120|b=y}}</ref> In this sense, Abraham has been described as representing "primordial man in universal surrender to the Divine Reality before its fragmentation into religions separated from each other by differences in form".<ref name="Glasse" />{{rp|18}} Muslims believe that the ] in ] was built by Abraham and his son ] as the first house of worship on earth. The Islamic holy day '] is celebrated in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's command, as well as the end of the ] pilgrimage to the Kaaba.<ref name="Glasse">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Glassé |first=Cyril |title=Kaaba |encyclopedia=The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam |publisher=], Suhail Academy |year=1991 |chapter=Abraham |pages=18–19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dlPuAAAAMAAJ |isbn=0-0606-3126-0}}</ref> | |||
| '''Ibrahim''' (]: ابراهيم), also known as ], is an important prophet in ], and the father of the Prophet ] (Ishmael), his firstborn son, who is considered the ''Father of the Arabs''. Ibrahim is commonly termed ''Khalil Ullah'', Friend of God. | |||
| Muslims believe that Abraham became the leader of the righteous in his time and that it was through him that ]-] and ] came. Abraham, in the belief of Islam, was instrumental in cleansing the world of ] at the time. ] was cleared out by Abraham in both the ] and ]. He spiritually purified both places as well as physically sanctifying the houses of worship. Abraham and ] (]) further established the rites of ],<ref>{{qref|2|128|b=y}}</ref> or '']'' ('Pilgrimage'), which are still followed by Muslims today. Muslims maintain that Abraham further asked God to bless both the lines of his progeny, of Isma'il and ] (]), and to keep all of his descendants in the protection of God. | |||
| Islam regards many of the ] "Patriarchs" as ] of God, and hence as Muslims. Ibrahim is regarded as neither Jew nor Christian but a ] (follower of the right path). | |||
| {{Islamic prophets|Prophets in the Quran}} | |||
| ==Commemoration of Ibrahim== | |||
| The faith of Ibrahim is called ] in the ]. Muslims believe that Ibrahim is a prophet of God, in accordance with the narrative of his life in the ]. Ibrahim and his son Ismail are said to have built the ] in ]. (]:125). Ibrahim also having an important role in one of the ], the ], which is a pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque. The principal aspect of the Hajj is remembering Ibrahim's sacrifice of Ismail (Ibrahim's firstborn son) and his path to the altar where Iblees (Satan) attempted to dissuade him three times. Those places where Satan appeared are marked with three symbolic stones where pilgrims throw stones. Moreover a part of the Hajj is a commemoration of the sacrifice and efforts of the wife of Ibrahim Hajre, ], to find water for her son Ismail, when he was near dead with thirst. She ran between the two hills, Safa and Marwa, seven times and this ritual, Saaee (means effort/struggle in Arabic) is mandatory for all pilgrims to Mecca. During her quest for water she saw that a spring of fresh water had erupted near where her son Ismail lay. That spring became the basis of founding the city of Mecca, since fresh water was scarce in that barren land, and many tribes settled around there. This spring has been running for thousands of years. Ibrahim settled his wife and son in the valley of Mecca by God's order, to pioneer a civilization. It was from this civilization that the final prophet of Islam, ], was later born. | |||
| == In the Quran== | |||
| In some traditions, Muslims have a specific '']'' that they recite daily, asking God to bless both Ibrahim and ]. Islamic prayer, ], that occurs five times a day, also includes many parts that ask God for his blessings upon Ibrahim; the most in the prayer. According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim is buried in ]. In the ] in ], there is an area known as the "station of Ibrahim" (''Maqam Ibrahim'' مقام), which bears an impression of his footprints. | |||
| {{Original research|table|date=December 2024}} | |||
| There are numerous references to Abraham in the Quran, including, twice, to the Scrolls of Abraham;<ref>{{qref|87|18–19|b=y}} and {{qref|53|36–37}}</ref> in the latter passage, it is mentioned that Abraham "fulfilled his engagements?-",<ref>{{qref|53|37|b=y}}</ref> a reference to all the trials that Abraham had succeeded in. In a whole series of chapters, the Qur'an relates how Abraham preached to his community as a youth and how he specifically told his father, named Azar,<ref name="qref|6|74|b=y">{{qref|6|74|b=y}}</ref> to leave idol-worship and come to the ].<ref>{{qref|37|83–89|b=y}}, {{qref|26|68–89}}, {{qref|19|41–50}}, {{qref|43|26–28}}, {{qref|21|51–73}}, {{qref|29|16–28}} and {{qref|6|74–84}}</ref> Some passages of the Quran, meanwhile, deal with the story of how God sent angels to Abraham with the announcement of the punishment to be imposed upon Lot's people in Sodom and Gomorrah.<ref>{{qref|52|24–34|b=y}}, {{qref|25|51–60}}, {{qref|11|69–76}} and {{qref|29|31}}</ref> Other verses mention the near-sacrifice of Abraham's son,<ref name="qref|37|100–111|b=y">{{qref|37|100–111|b=y}}</ref> whose name is not given but is presumed to be Ishmael as the following verses mention the birth of Isaac.<ref name="Glasse" /> The Quran also repeatedly establishes Abraham's role as patriarch and mentions numerous important descendants who came through his lineage, including Isaac,<ref>{{qref|25|53|b=y}}</ref> Jacob<ref>{{qref|29|49|b=y}}, {{qref|21|72}}, {{qref|29|27}}, {{qref|6|84}}, {{qref|11|71}} and {{qref|38|45–47}}</ref> and Ishmael.<ref>{{qref|2|132–133|b=y}}</ref> In the later chapters of the Quran, Abraham's role becomes yet more prominent. The Quran mentions that Abraham and Ishmael were the reformers who set up the Ka‘bah in Mecca as a center of pilgrimage for monotheism<ref>{{qref|2|123–141|b=y}}, {{qref|3|65–68}}, {{qref|3|95–97}}, {{qref|4|125}}, {{qref|4|26–29}} and {{qref|22|78}}</ref> The Quran consistently refers to Islam as "the Religion of Abraham" (''millat Ibrahim'')<ref>{{qref|2|135|b=y}}</ref> and Abraham is given a title as '']'' (''The Pure'', "true in Faith" or "upright man").<ref>{{qref|3|67|b=y}}</ref> The Quran also mentions Abraham as one whom God took as a friend (''Khalil''),<ref>{{qref|4|125|b=y}}</ref> hence Abraham's title in Islam, ''Khalil-Allah'' (''Friend of God''). The term is considered by some to be a derivation of the patriarch's title, ''Qal El''.<ref>Weinstein, Simcha (2006). Up, Up, and Oy Vey! (1st ed.). Leviathan Press. {{ISBN|978-1-881927-32-7}}</ref><ref>World Jewish Digest (Aug 2006; posted online 25 July 2006): "Superman's Other Secret Identity", by Jeff Fleischer</ref> Other instances in the Quran which are described in a concise manner are the rescue of Abraham from the fire into which he was thrown by his people';<ref>{{qref|37|97|b=y}} and {{qref|21|68–70}}</ref><ref>{{qref|21|51–73|b=y}}</ref> his pleading for his father;<ref>{{qref|28|47|b=y}}</ref> his quarrel with an unrighteous and powerful king<ref>{{qref|2|58|b=y}}</ref> and the miracle of the dead birds.<ref name="q2s260"/> | |||
| All these events and more have been discussed with more details in Muslim tradition, and especially in the '']'' and works of universal Islamic theology.<ref>''Stories of the Prophets'', Ibn Kathir, ''Ibrahim''; ''Tales of the Prophets'', Kisa'i, ''Ibrahim''</ref> Certain episodes from the life of Abraham have been more heavily detailed in Islamic text, such as the arguments between Abraham and the evil king, Nimrod, the near-sacrifice of his son, and the story of Hagar and Ishmael, which Muslims commemorate when performing ] in Mecca. An important ], Eid al-Adha, commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019040746/http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/eid-al-adha.html |date=19 October 2012 }} University of Kansas Medical Center</ref> In some cases, some believe these legends in Islamic text may have influenced later Jewish tradition.<ref>J. Eisenberg, ''EI'', ''Ibrahim''</ref> | |||
| ==Ibrahim in the Qur'an== | |||
| There are numerous references to Ibrahim in the Qur'an. According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim is the spiritual father of all the believers. He is mentioned as an upright person who was neither a polytheist nor a Christian or a Jew (]:67). An example is like the one below: | |||
| == Biography in Islamic scripture == | |||
| <blockquote> | |||
| ===Youth=== | |||
| ''O ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may prosper And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Ibrahim (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper.'' (]:78) | |||
| {{See also|Akkadian Empire|Sumer|Sumerian religion}} | |||
| </blockquote> | |||
| {{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width= | |||
| |image1=Birthplace of Abraham (30644538800).jpg |caption1=Ruins in the ]i city of ], 2016, where Ibrahim is thought to have been born, and are thus named "Abraham's House" ({{coord|30|57|42.75|N|46|06|21.3|E}}) | |||
| |image2=Operation Iraqi Freedom DVIDS284470.jpg |caption2=The ], in 2010. | |||
| }} | |||
| Ibrahim was born in a house of ] in the ancient city of ], likely the place called ']' in present-day ], in which case, the idolaters would have been practitioners of the hypothesized ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} His father Azar was a well-known ] that his people worshiped. As a young child, Ibrahim used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. When his father was finished with them, Ibrahim would ask his father why they could not move or respond to any request and then would mock them; therefore, his father would always scold him for not following his ancestors' rituals and mocking their idols.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.qtafsir.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=2637&Itemid=76|title=QTafsir Tafsir Ibn Kathir Mobile|website=m.qtafsir.com}}</ref> | |||
| According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim reached the conclusion that anything subject to disappearance could not be worthy of worship, and thus became a ] (]:76–83). While some Muslims — like Jews — believe that Azar who was an idol-maker was the father of Ibrahim, the majority of Muslims believe that ] was his father and Azar was Ibrahim's uncle Ibrahim broke his uncle's idols, calling on his community to worship God instead. They then cast him into a fire, which miraculously failed to burn him (]:83–98). The well-known but wholly non-canonical '']'' (]) records many more details of his life, which are commonly referred to in Islamic accounts. | |||
| Despite his opposition to ], his father Azar would still send Ibrahim to sell his idols in the marketplace. During one of the many festivals that would take place in the city, the people would gather in their temple and place offerings of food before their idols. Ur's most prominent temple is the ], which can be seen today.<ref name="Zettler, R.L. 1998">{{citation |editor1-last=Zettler |editor1-first=R. L. |editor2-last=Horne |editor2-first=L. |year=1998 |title=Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur |publisher=]}}</ref> Ibrahim would ask them, "What are you worshipping? Do these idols hear when you call them? Can they help you or hurt you?" The people would reply, "It is the way of our forefathers." Ibrahim declared "I am sick of your gods! Truly I am their enemy."{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} | |||
| ==The sacrifice== | |||
| Traditionally, Muslims believe that it was ] rather than ] whom Ibrahim was told to sacrifice. In support of this, Muslims note that the text of ], despite specifying Isaac, appears to state that Ibrahim was told to sacrifice his only son ("Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac," translation, Genesis/Bereshit 22:2) to God. Since Isaac was Ibrahim's second son, it is arguable there was no time at which he would have been Ibrahim's "only son", and that this supports the Muslim belief that there was an original text that must have named Ishmael rather than Isaac as the intended sacrifice. The ] itself does not specify by name which son Ibrahim nearly sacrificed saying only that it was his only son (]:99–111). Isaac (] in Islam) is also considered a prophet in Islam. | |||
| ===The great fire=== | |||
| Muslims believe Ibrahim's dream was a test from God. When Ibrahim told his dream to Ismail, it was Ismail who convinced Ibrahim to fulfill God's order. So this was a test for both Ibrahim, who had longed for a son for such a long time, and for Ismail. Shaytaan (the devil Satan) appeared before Ibrahim and Ismail to try and deceive them. Ibrahim and Ismail threw stones at Shaytaan as a response. This is commemorated during the jumrah, one of the rites undertaken by Muslims making the required pilgrimage to Mecca. As Shaytaan had failed to deceive Ibrahim and Ismail, he went to Ibrahim's wife, and mother of Ismail, Hajar. When he told her what had happened she did not believe him, but when he told her that Ibrahim believed he was carrying out God's will, Hajar said: "If it is God's will, let what God wills be done". Their faith had overcome Shaytaan. | |||
| The decision to have Abraham ] was affirmed by the temple priests and the king of Babylon, ]. The news spread like fire in the kingdom and people were coming from all places to watch the execution. A huge pit was dug up and a large quantity of wood was piled up. Then the biggest fire people ever witnessed was lit. The flames were so high up in the sky that even the birds could not fly over it for fear of being burnt themselves. Ibrahim's hands and feet were chained, and he was put in a ], ready to be thrown in. During this time, Angel ]<nowiki/> came to him and said: "O Abraham! Is there anything you wish for?" Abraham could have asked to be saved from the fire or to be taken away, but Ibrahim replied, "God is sufficient for me, He is the best disposer of my affairs." The catapult was released and Ibrahim was thrown into the fire. God then gave an order to the fire, "O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim." A miracle occurred, the fire obeyed and burned only his chains. Abraham came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful, his face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes. People watched in shock and exclaimed: "Amazing! Abraham's God has saved him from the fire!"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stories of the Prophets {{!}} Alim.org |url=https://www.alim.org//history/prophet-stories/6/13/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.alim.org |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{qref|21|69|b=y}}</ref> | |||
| ===Confrontation with Nimrod=== | |||
| The entire episode of the sacrifice is regarded as a trial that Ibrahim had to face from God. It is celebrated by Muslims on the day of ]. | |||
| The Quran discusses a very short conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Abraham.<ref>{{qref|2|258|b=y}}</ref> Although the king in the Quran is unnamed, and this fact has been recognized as being least important in the narrative, outside of the Quran, namely in some of the '']'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quranx.com/tafsirs/2.258|title=Tafsir Surah 2:258|website=quranx.com|access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> this king has been suggested to be ].<ref>''History of the Prophets and Kings'', ], Vol. I: ''Prophets and Patriarchs''</ref> This Tafsir by ], a 14th-century scholar, has many embellishments in the narrative like Nimrod claiming ] for himself. The ] describes Nimrod's quarrel with Ibrahim, how he (Nimrod) became extremely angry and in his 'utter disbelief and arrant rebellion' became a tyrant.<ref>{{Qtaf|en:ibk|2|258}}</ref> | |||
| According to ] historian ], Nimrod was a man who set his will against that of God. Nimrod proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects. Nimrod's consort ] was also worshipped as a goddess at his side.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} Before Abraham was born, a portent in the stars tells Nimrod and his ] of the impending birth of Abraham, who would put an end to ]. Nimrod therefore orders the ]. However, Abraham's mother escapes into the fields and gives birth secretly. Flavius Josephus mentions that Abraham confronts Nimrod and tells him face-to-face to cease his idolatry, whereupon Nimrod orders him ]. Nimrod has his subjects gather enough wood so as to burn Abraham in the biggest fire the world had ever seen. Yet when the fire is lit and Abraham is thrown into it, Abraham walks out unscathed. In Islam, it is debated whether the decision to have Ibrahim burned at the stake came from Nimrod and the temple priests or whether the people themselves became ] and hatched the plan to have him burned at the stake. According to Muslim commentators, after Abraham survived the great fire, notoriety in society grew bigger after this event. Nimrod, who was the King of ] felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim coming out of the fire unharmed, a large part of society started believing in God and Abraham being a ]. Up until this point, Nimrod was pretending that he himself was a god. Nimrod wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god and that Ibrahim was a liar. Nimrod asked Ibrahim, "What can your God do that I cannot?" Ibrahim replied, "My Lord is He who gives life and death." Nimrod then shouted, "I give life and death! I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." Abraham replied, "Well, my lord God makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?" Nimrod was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory and in front of his own people. Abraham left him there speechless and went back to his mission of calling people to worship God.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamicity.com/media/ancmts/docum1.htm|title=The Father of the Prophets|work=islamicity.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophets/ibrahim.html|title=Ibn Kathir: Story of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (pbuh)|work=islamawareness.net}}</ref> | |||
| The proof that Ismail was the son to be sacrificed and not Isaac, is that God wouldn't discriminate between the two brothers and woudn't call Isaac the only son if Ibrahim has an older son. | |||
| This event has been noted as particularly important because, in the Muslim perspective, it almost foreshadowed the prophetic careers of future prophets, most significantly the career of Moses. Abraham's quarrel with the king has been interpreted by some to be a precursor to Moses's preaching to ]. Just as the ruler who argued against Abraham claimed divinity for himself, so did the ], who refused to hear the call of Moses and perished in the ]. In this particular incident, scholars have further commented on Abraham's wisdom in employing "rational, wise and target-oriented" speech, as opposed to pointless arguments.<ref>''Book 1: The Prophet Abraham'', Harun Yahya, ''The Unbeliever Advised By Abraham'', Online.</ref> | |||
| The claim that God told Ibrahim to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, means that God does not consider Ismail a son of Ibrahim because they come from different mothers. This notion about God cannot be imagined to be true because it means that God is racist, therefore it is false. | |||
| Abraham, in the eyes of many Muslims, also symbolized the highest moral values essential to any person. The Qur'an details the account of the ]s coming to Abraham to tell him of the birth of Ismael. It says that, as soon as Abraham saw the messengers, he "hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf."<ref name="q11s69">{{qref|11|69|b=y}}</ref> This action has been interpreted by all the scholars as exemplary; many scholars have commentated upon this one action, saying that it symbolizes Abraham's exceedingly high moral level and thus is a model for how men should act in a similar situation. This incident has only further heightened the "compassionate" character of Abraham in ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} | |||
| ==References in the Qur'an== | |||
| *Ibrahim's attributes: , , , , | |||
| *Ibrahim's : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | |||
| *Allah tried Ibrahim : , | |||
| *Ibrahim's preaching: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | |||
| *Development of Ka'bah: | |||
| *Ibrahim's pilgrimage: , | |||
| *Ibrahim as Allah's friend: | |||
| *Punishment to Ibrahim's people: | |||
| *Moving to Syam: , | |||
| *Ibrahim, Hajar, and Ismail: , | |||
| *Dreaming of resurrecting a dead body: | |||
| *Arguing Namrud: | |||
| *Ibrahim and his father | |||
| **Ibrahim preached his father: , , , , , , , , | |||
| **His father's ]: , , | |||
| **Ibrahim asked forgiveness for his father: , , , | |||
| **Arguing the people: , , , | |||
| **Ibrahim moved away from the people: , , , , , | |||
| **Ibrahim's warnings for the idols: , , , | |||
| **Thrown into fire: , , | |||
| **Safed from the fire: , , , | |||
| *Delightful news about ] and ]: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | |||
| *Dreaming of Ismail's slaughtery: , | |||
| ===Sacrifice=== | |||
| {{Prophets in the Qur'an}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The classical Quranic exegete and historian ] offered two versions, whom Abraham was ordered to sacrifice. According to the first strand, Abraham wished for a righteous son, whereupon an angel appeared to him informing him, that he will get a righteous son, but when he was born and reached puberty, he must be sacrificed for God. Later, the angel appeared to Hagar to inform her about the upcoming child. When Ishmael was grown, someone appeared to Abraham, invites him to keep his vow.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rippin |first1=Andrew |last2=Knappert |first2=Jan |title=Textual Sources for the Study of Islam |publisher=The ] |date=15 October 1990 |isbn=978-0-2267-2063-0 |page=63}}</ref> | |||
| <blockquote> When Ishmael was grown, someone appeared to Abraham in a dream and said to him: "Keep your vow which you made! God bestowed upon you a boy by Hagar so that you may sacrifice him" So he said to Ishmael: "Let us go offer a sacrifice to God!" So he took a knife and some rope and went with him until they reached a place in the mountains. The boy said to him: "Oh father! Where is your sacrifice?" He replied: "Oh my son, I saw in a dream, that I will slaughter you. So pay attention to what you see". He said, "Oh my father, do what you have been commanded; you will find me, Insha-Allah (if God wills), one of the patient". Ishmael then said to him: "Make tight my bonds, so that I will not struggle to pull back your clothes so that none of my blood will be shed on them for Hagar will see it and be grieved. Hurry! Pass the knife over my throat so that death will be easy for me. When you come to Hagar, greet her'. Abraham began to approach him and, while crying, tied him up. Ishmael too was crying such that the tears gathered by the cheek of Ishmael. He then drew the knife along his throat but the knife did not cut, for God had placed a sheet of copper on the throat of Ishmael. When he saw that, he turned him on his forehead and nicked him on the back of the head just as God has said in Quran {{qref|37|103|pl=y}}: ''When they had both submitted and he flung on his forehead'', that is they had submitted the affair to God. A voice called out: 'Abraham, you have fulfilled the vision!" He turned around and behold, there was a ram. He took it and released his son and he bent over his son saying: "Oh my son, today you have been given to me". That comes in God's saying in Quran {{qref|37|107|pl=y}}: ''We ransomed him with a great sacrifice''.</blockquote> | |||
| The second strand, provided by Tabari, states that Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael, and ] appeared in form of a man to prevent the sacrifice. | |||
| ] | |||
| <blockquote> Iblis (Satan), who had taken on the form of a man, said: "Where are you going, O Shaikh?" He replied: " I am going to these mountains because I must do something there'. Iblis said: "By God, I have seen that Shaytan has come to you in a dream and ordered you to slaughter this little son of yours. And you intend to do that slaughtering!" Thereupon Abraham recognized him and said: "Get away from me, enemy of God! By God, I will most certainly continue to do what my Lord has commanded". Iblis, the enemy of God, gave up on Abraham but then he encountered Ishmael, who was behind Abraham carrying the wood and the large knife. He said to him: "O young man, do you realize where your father is taking you?" He said: "To gather wood for our family from the mountains". He replied: "By God, his actual intention is to sacrifice you!" He said: "Why?!" Iblis replied: "He claims that his Lord has ordered him to do so!" Ishmael replied: "He must do what his Lord commands, absolutely!" When the young man had rebuffed him, Iblis went to Hagar, the mother of Ishmael who was still at home. Iblis said to her: "Oh mother of Ishmael! Do you realize where Abraham is going with Ishmael?" She replied: "They have gone to gather wood for us in the mountains". He said: "He has actually gone in order to sacrifice him!" She replied: "It cannot be! He is too kind and too loving towards him to do that!" Iblis said: "He claims that God has ordered him to do that!" Hagar said: "If his Lord has ordered him to do that then he must submit to the command of God!" So the enemy of God returned exasperated at not being able to influence the family of Abraham as he wished.</blockquote> | |||
| This great sacrifice denotes the importance of the ram that replaced Ibraheem's son. ] records Ibn Abbas' explanation of the verse, according to Muhammad's teachings. The explanation is as follows:<ref name="Qtaf|en:ibk|37|107">{{Qtaf|en:ibk|37|107}}</ref> | |||
| {{blockquote|"And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice" (37:107). It was reported that Ibn `Abbas (may God be pleased with him) said, "A ram which had grazed in Paradise for forty years."|{{Qtaf|en:ibk|37|107}}}} | |||
| The Tafsir further goes on to say that the ram's horns were preserved until the time of ]:<ref name="Qtaf|en:ibk|37|107" /> | |||
| <blockquote> Imam Ahmad recorded that Safiyyah bint Shaybah said, "A woman from Bani Sulaym, who was the midwife of most of the people in our household, told me that the Messenger of God sent for `Uthman bin Talhah, may God be pleased with him.<nowiki>''</nowiki> On one occasion she said, "I asked `Uthman, `Why did the Prophet call you' He said, `The Messenger of God said to me, I saw the horns of the ram when I entered the House (i.e., the Ka`bah), and I forgot to tell you to cover them up; cover them up, for there should not be anything in the House which could distract the worshipper.)<nowiki>'''</nowiki> Sufyan said, "The horns of the ram remained hanging in the House until it was burned, and they were burned too.<nowiki>''</nowiki> The Quraysh had inherited the horns of the ram that Abraham sacrificed, and they had been passed down from generation to generation, until the Messenger of God was sent. And God knows best.</blockquote> | |||
| From that day onwards, every ] once a year Muslims around the world slaughter an animal to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice and to remind themselves of self-abnegation in the way of God, and they would share the meat among friends, family, the poor and the needy. This is called ]i ("sacrifice").<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aaiil.org/text/books/mga/khutbahilhamiyya/khutbahilhamiyyadeepermeaningsacrifice.pdf|title=Deeper Meaning of Sacrifice in Islam<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=8 December 2014|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809042827/https://www.aaiil.org/text/books/mga/khutbahilhamiyya/khutbahilhamiyyadeepermeaningsacrifice.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| ===Miracles=== | |||
| Abraham encountered several miracles of God during his lifetime. The Quran records a few main miracles, although different interpretations have been attributed to the passages. Some of the miracles recorded in the Quran are: | |||
| * Abraham was shown the kingdom of the ]s and the ].<ref>{{qref|6|75|b=y}}</ref> | |||
| * Abraham and the miracle of the birds.<ref name="q2s260">{{qref|2|260|b=y}}</ref> | |||
| * Abraham was thrown into a fire, which became "cool" and "peaceful" for him.<ref>{{qref|21|68–70|b=y}}</ref> | |||
| The first passage has been interpreted both literally, allegorically, and otherwise. Although some commentators feel that this passage referred to a physical miracle, where Abraham was physically shown the entire kingdom of Heaven (]),<ref>''The Book of Certainty'', M. Lings, S. Academy Publishing</ref> others have felt that it refers to the spiritual understanding of Abraham; these latter scholars maintain that the ] were skilled in the observance of the stars, but Abraham, who lived amongst them, saw beyond the physical world and into a higher spiritual realm. The second passage has one mainstream interpretation amongst the ], that Abraham took four birds and cut them up, placing pieces of each on nearby hills; when he called out to them, each piece joined and four birds flew back to Abraham.<ref>''Stories of the Prophets'', Kisa'i/Kathir, ''Story of Abraham''</ref> This miracle, as told by the Quranic passage, was a demonstration by God to show Abraham how God gave life to the dead. As the physical cutting of the birds is not implied in the passage, some commentators have offered alternative interpretations, but all maintain that the miracle was for the same demonstrative purpose to show Abraham the power God has to raise the dead to life.<ref>Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, ''Abdullah Yusuf Ali'', note. 285</ref> The third passage has also been interpreted both literally and metaphorically, or in some cases both. Commentators state that the 'fire' refers to the main aspects. They maintained that, firstly, the fire referred to the physical flame, from which Abraham was saved unharmed. The commentators further stated that, secondly, the fire referred to the 'fire of persecution', from which Abraham was saved, as he left his people after this with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot.<ref>Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, ''Abdullah Yusuf Ali'', note. 2703</ref> | |||
| ==Title== | |||
| Abraham is given the title ''Khalilullah'' in Islam.<ref name=bbc /> The Quran says: | |||
| {{Blockquote|And who is better in faith than those who ˹fully˺ submit themselves to Allah, do good, and follow the Way of Abraham, the upright? Allah chose Abraham as a close friend.|{{qref|4|125|c=y}}}} | |||
| This particular title of Abraham is so famous in ] and tradition that, in the areas in and around Mecca, Abraham is often referred to solely as ''The Friend''.<ref>''Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now'', M. Lings. Archetype Books</ref> This title of ''Friend of God'' is not exclusive to Islamic theology. Although the other religious traditions do not stress upon it, Abraham is called a ''Friend of God'' in the second ] and the ] in the ] (])<ref>{{Bibleverse||Isaiah|41:8}} and {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|20:7}}</ref> as well as in the ].<ref>{{Bibleverse||James|2:23}}</ref> | |||
| ==Relationship with Islamic shrines== | |||
| {{See also|List of mosques that are mentioned by name in the Quran|Qibla}} | |||
| One of Abraham's most important features in Islamic ] is his role as the constructor of the Kaaba. Although tradition recounts that ] constructed the original Kaaba, which was demolished by the ] at the time of Noah, Abraham is believed to have rebuilt it in its original form. The Quran, in the Muslim perspective, merely confirms or reinforces the laws of ]. The rites were instituted by Abraham and for all Muslims, as they perform the pilgrimage, the event is a way to return to the perfection of Abraham's faith.<ref name="Lings">{{cite book |last=Lings |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Lings |title=] |publisher=Islamic Texts Society |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-946621-33-0}}</ref> Just as ] is referred to as the "City of the Prophet " or simply the "City of Muhammad", Mecca is frequently cited as the "City of Abraham", because Abraham's reformation of the monotheistic faith is believed to have taken place in Mecca.<ref name="Glasse" /> Likewise, Islamic belief links the original ] of ] in the ] of ] to Abraham.<ref name="Michigan C 1986">{{cite book |author=Michigan Consortium for Medieval and Early Modern Studies |editor1=Goss, V. P. |editor2=Bornstein, C. V. |title=The Meeting of Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades |publisher=Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University |volume=21 |page=208 |isbn=0918720583 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p44kAQAAMAAJ |year=1986}}</ref> | |||
| <gallery mode="packed"> | |||
| File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|The ] ] in Islam, that is the ] of the ] in the ]i city of ], is believed to date to the time of Abraham and Ishmael<ref name="Michigan C 1986"/> | |||
| File:Maqam Ibrahim.JPG|The '']'' (Station) of Abraham which is believed by Muslims to contain his footprints, near the Kaaba in '']'' | |||
| File:Temple Mount (Aerial view, 2007) 05.jpg|], also known as the ], ] of ] in ], is also believed to date to the lifetime of Abraham<ref name="Michigan C 1986"/> | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==''Suhuf''== | |||
| {{Main|Scrolls of Abraham}} | |||
| The Quran refers to certain ]. All Muslim scholars have generally agreed that no scrolls of Abraham survive, and therefore this is a reference to a lost body of scripture.<ref>''A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism'', B. M. Wheeler, ''Abraham''</ref> The Scrolls of Abraham are understood by Muslims to refer to certain revelations Abraham received, which he would have then transmitted to writing. The exact contents of the revelation are not described in the Qur'an. | |||
| The 87th chapter of the Quran, Surah ], concludes by saying the subject matter of the sura has been in the earlier scriptures of Abraham and Moses. It is slightly indicative of what were in the previous scriptures, according to Islam: | |||
| {{blockquote|<poem>So ˹always˺ remind ˹with the Quran˺—˹even˺ if the reminder is beneficial ˹only to some˺. | |||
| Those in awe ˹of Allah˺ will be mindful ˹of it˺. | |||
| But it will be shunned by the most wretched, | |||
| who will burn in the greatest Fire, | |||
| where they will not ˹be able to˺ live or die. | |||
| Successful indeed are those who purify themselves, | |||
| remember the Name of their Lord, and pray. | |||
| But you ˹deniers only˺ prefer the life of this world, | |||
| even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting. | |||
| This is certainly ˹mentioned˺ in the earlier Scriptures— | |||
| the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.</poem>|{{qref|87|9–19|c=y}}}} | |||
| ''Surah ]'' mentions some more subject matters of the earlier scriptures of Abraham and ] (]): | |||
| {{blockquote|<poem>Or has he not been informed of what is in the ], | |||
| and ˹that of˺ Abraham, who ˹perfectly˺ fulfilled ˹his covenant˺? | |||
| ˹They state˺ that no soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another, | |||
| and that each person will only have what they endeavoured towards, | |||
| and that ˹the outcome of˺ their endeavours will be seen ˹in their record˺, | |||
| then they will be fully rewarded, | |||
| and that to your Lord ˹alone˺ is the ultimate return ˹of all things˺. | |||
| Moreover, He is the One Who brings about joy and sadness. | |||
| And He is the One Who gives life and causes death. | |||
| And He created the pairs—males and females— | |||
| from a sperm-drop when it is emitted. | |||
| And it is upon Him to bring about re-creation. | |||
| And He is the One Who enriches and impoverishes. | |||
| And He alone is the Lord of ]. | |||
| And He destroyed the first ˹people of˺ ], | |||
| and ˹then˺ ], sparing no one. | |||
| And before ˹that He destroyed˺ the people of Noah, who were truly far worse in wrongdoing and transgression. | |||
| And ˹it was˺ He ˹Who˺ turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down. | |||
| How overwhelming was what covered ˹them˺! | |||
| Now, which of your Lord’s favours will you dispute? | |||
| This ˹Prophet˺ is a warner like earlier ones. | |||
| The approaching ˹Hour˺ has drawn near. | |||
| None but Allah can disclose it. | |||
| Do you find this revelation astonishing, | |||
| laughing ˹at it˺ and not weeping ˹in awe˺, | |||
| while persisting in heedlessness? | |||
| Instead, prostrate to Allah and worship ˹Him alone˺!</poem>|{{qref|53|36–62|c=y}}}} | |||
| Yet some scholars{{By whom|date=March 2012}} suggested it to be a reference to the '']'', as ] generally ascribed its authorship to Abraham.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} Other scholars, however, wrote of a certain '']'', which they explained was available at the time of ].<ref>''Tafsir'' and Commentary on 87: 18–19 & 53: 36–37, Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Asad</ref> | |||
| The Quran contains numerous references to Abraham, his life, prayers, and traditions and has a dedicated chapter named ]. On a relevant note, surah ] was revealed as an answer from God to the ] who inquired of Muhammad about past events. Here God directly instructed Muhammad in surah Al-Kahf, not to consult the Jews for verifying the three stories about which they inquired. | |||
| {{blockquote|Some will say, “They were three, their dog was the fourth,” while others will say, “They were five, their dog was the sixth,” ˹only˺ guessing blindly. And others will say, “They were seven and their dog was the eighth.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “My Lord knows best their ˹exact˺ number. Only a few people know as well.” So do not argue about them except with sure knowledge,1 nor consult any of those ˹who debate˺ about them.|{{qref|18|22|c=y}}}} | |||
| The reason being God declaring He Himself is relating what needs to be verified in another verse of al-Kahf: | |||
| {{Blockquote|We relate to you ˹O Prophet˺ their story in truth. They were youths who truly believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.|{{qref|18|13|c=y}}}} | |||
| Regarding consultation with the ], it is also narrated by ] in hadith: | |||
| {{Blockquote|Narrated Abu Huraira: The people of the Scripture (Jews) used to recite the ] in Hebrew and they used to explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. On that God's Apostle said, "Do not believe the people of the Scripture or disbelieve them, but say: 'We believe in God and what is revealed to us.'"|]|{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|6|60|12}}}} | |||
| Therefore, relating to any ascription of the Scrolls of Abraham by the people of the book is not required. | |||
| ==Significance as a patriarch== | |||
| {{Main|Ishmael in Islam|Isaac in Islam}} | |||
| {{Six Islamic Prophets}} | |||
| Abraham is also extremely important as a leader of Islam and as a patriarch of the Islamic faith. Muslims recognize Abraham as the ancestor through whom many other prophets and ]s ('']'') came, including Moses, ] (]) and Muhammad. The Quran lists, in the sixth chapter, some of the greatest figures to have through Abraham's progeny: | |||
| {{blockquote|This was the argument We gave Abraham against his people. We elevate in rank whoever We please. Surely your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.<br />And We blessed him with Isaac and Jacob. We guided them all as We previously guided Noah and those among his descendants: ], ], ], ], Moses, and ]. This is how We reward the good-doers.<br />Likewise, ˹We guided˺ ], ], Jesus, and ], who were all of the righteous.<br /> ˹We also guided˺ Ishmael, Elisha, ], and Lot, favouring each over other people ˹of their time˺.<br />And ˹We favoured˺ some of their forefathers, their descendants, and their brothers. We chose them and guided them to the Straight Path.|{{qref|6|83–87|b=y}} <ref>See also ], ], ] and ]</ref>}} | |||
| Abraham's narrative in the Quran indirectly refers to his role as one of the great patriarchs. The Quran says that God made Abraham "an ] to the Nations"<ref name="q2s124"/> and father to Muslims,<ref>{{qref|22|78|b=y}}</ref> and his narrative records him praying for his offspring.<ref>{{qref|14|35|b=y}}</ref> The Quran further states that Abraham's descendants were given "the Book and Wisdom",<ref>{{qref|4|54|b=y}}</ref> and this fact is reinforced in a verse which states that Abraham's family was one of those in which the gift of ] was established as a generic trait.<ref>{{qref|19|58|b=y}}</ref> The Quran emphasizes upon Abraham's significance as it states that Abraham's family, Noah, Adam and the family of ] were the four selected by God above all the worlds.<ref>{{qref|3|33|b=y}}</ref> As a result of his significance as a patriarch, Abraham is sometimes given the title ''Father of the Prophets.'' Of Abraham's immediate sons, the Quran repeatedly establishes the gifts God bestowed upon them. Ishmael, along with Elisha and ] (possibly ]), is regarded as being "of the Company of the Good."<ref>{{qref|38|48|b=y}}</ref> and one of the men who was given "favour above the nations."<ref>{{qref|6|86|b=y}}</ref> In addition, Ishmael is described as being "true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet."<ref name="q19s54">{{qref|19|54|b=y}}</ref> Likewise, the Quran says of Isaac that he was "of the company of the Elect and the Good."<ref>{{qref|38|47|b=y}}</ref> and was "a prophet,- one of the Righteous."<ref name="q37s112">{{qref|37|112|b=y}}</ref> and further describes him as "of Power and Vision."<ref>{{qref|38|45|b=y}}</ref> | |||
| ==Burial place== | |||
| {{Main|Cave of the Patriarchs}} | |||
| Muslims believe that Abraham was buried, along with his wife Sarah, at the Cave of the Patriarchs in the ], the ]. Known to Muslims as the ''Sanctuary of Abraham'' it is also thought to be the burial site of his son Isaac, his wife ], their son Jacob, and his wife ].<ref name="Emmett2000">{{cite book |last=Emmett |first=Chad F. |editor1-last=Murphy |editor1-first=Alexander B. |editor2-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Douglas L. |editor3-last=Haarmann |editor3-first=Viola |chapter=Sharing Sacred Space in the Holy Land |title=Cultural encounters with the environment: enduring and evolving geographic themes |publisher=] |pages=271–291 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4WLmLRYxRZoC&q=hebron&pg=PA261 |isbn=978-0-7425-0106-5 |year=2000}}</ref><ref name="Gish2018">{{cite book |last=Gish |first=Arthur G. |title=Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking |publisher=] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7qCDwAAQBAJ&q=abraham |isbn=978-1-5326-6213-3 |date=20 December 2018}}</ref> | |||
| <gallery widths=180> | |||
| File:Abraham in the Mosque of Abraham IMG 2289.JPG|] over Abraham's grave in his mosque at Hebron | |||
| File:Abraham cave.jpg|In the section of the cave which is a mosque, this grate allows visitors to look down into a shaft measuring {{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=off}}, which leads to the ground level of the cave where Abraham and Sarah are buried | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}} | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| * {{cite book|last=Saad Assel|first=Mary|title=25 Icons of Peace in the Qur'an: Lessons of Harmony|year=2010|publisher=iUniverse|isbn= 9781440169014|page=244|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uwE06I3ID_IC}} | |||
| * {{cite book|last=Mehar|first=Iftikhar Ahmed|title=Al-Islam: Inception to Conclusion|year=2003|publisher=AL-ISLAM|isbn= 9781410732729|page=240|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O0gypGNaj3kC}} | |||
| * {{cite book|author=Islam Kotob|title=Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir|publisher=Islamic Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ls1fKaZFYtAC}} | |||
| * {{cite book|last=Lalljee|first=compiled by Yousuf N.|title=Know your Islam|year=1993|publisher=Taknike Tarsile Quran|location=New York|isbn=978-0-940368-02-6|page=|url=https://archive.org/details/knowyourislam0000lall|url-access=registration|edition=3rd}} | |||
| ===Further reading=== | |||
| ==== General ==== | |||
| * {{cite encyclopedia |url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/browse/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/alpha/a?s.start=240| editor1=P.J. Bearman | editor2=Th. Bianquis | editor3=Clifford Edmund Bosworth | editor3-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth | editor4=E. van Donzel | editor5=W.P. Heinrichs |title=Ibrāhīm | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam |edition=2nd | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | issn=1573-3912 }} | |||
| ====Abraham and the Kaaba==== | |||
| * ], ''Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now'', Archetype | |||
| * Leila Azzam, ''Lives of the Prophets'', ''Abraham and the Kaaba'', Suhail Academy | |||
| ====Abraham's life==== | |||
| * ], '']'', Vol. II: ''Prophets and Patriarchs'' | |||
| * ], ''Stories of the Prophets'', Chapter VI: ''Story of Abraham'' | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128090616/http://muslimways.com/library/islamic-history/stories-of-the-prophets/the-story-of-the-prophet-ibrahim-his-wife-hajar.html |date=28 November 2017 }} | |||
| * | |||
| {{Prophets in the Quran}} | |||
| {{Quranic people}} | |||
| {{Adam to Muhammad}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 06:16, 8 January 2025
Islamic view of Abraham
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| ProphetʾIbrāhīm إِبْرَاهِيْمُ Abraham | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Exterior view of the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Old City of Hebron, the Holy Land | |
| Born | 1996 BC Ur al-Chaldees, Bilād ar-Rāfidayn |
| Died | 1821 BC (aged 175) Hebron, Shaam |
| Resting place | Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron |
| Other names | Khalīlullāh (Friend of God) |
| Known for |
|
| Predecessor | Salih |
| Successor | Lut |
| Spouses | |
| Children | Isma'il (Ishmael), Isḥaq (Isaac) |
| Parent | Tarakh (father) Mahalath (mother) |
| Relatives | Lut (nephew) |
Abraham was a prophet and messenger of God according to Islam, and an ancestor to the Ishmaelite Arabs and Israelites. Abraham plays a prominent role as an example of faith in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Muslim belief, Abraham fulfilled all the commandments and trials wherein God nurtured him throughout his lifetime. As a result of his unwavering faith in God, Abraham was promised by God to be a leader to all the nations of the world. The Quran extols Abraham as a model, an exemplar, obedient and not an idolater. In this sense, Abraham has been described as representing "primordial man in universal surrender to the Divine Reality before its fragmentation into religions separated from each other by differences in form". Muslims believe that the Kaaba in Mecca was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael as the first house of worship on earth. The Islamic holy day 'Eid ul-Adha is celebrated in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's command, as well as the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the Kaaba.
Muslims believe that Abraham became the leader of the righteous in his time and that it was through him that Adnanite-Arabs and Israelites came. Abraham, in the belief of Islam, was instrumental in cleansing the world of idolatry at the time. Paganism was cleared out by Abraham in both the Arabian peninsula and Canaan. He spiritually purified both places as well as physically sanctifying the houses of worship. Abraham and Isma'il (Ishmael) further established the rites of pilgrimage, or Ḥajj ('Pilgrimage'), which are still followed by Muslims today. Muslims maintain that Abraham further asked God to bless both the lines of his progeny, of Isma'il and Isḥaq (Isaac), and to keep all of his descendants in the protection of God.
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In the Quran
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There are numerous references to Abraham in the Quran, including, twice, to the Scrolls of Abraham; in the latter passage, it is mentioned that Abraham "fulfilled his engagements?-", a reference to all the trials that Abraham had succeeded in. In a whole series of chapters, the Qur'an relates how Abraham preached to his community as a youth and how he specifically told his father, named Azar, to leave idol-worship and come to the worship of God. Some passages of the Quran, meanwhile, deal with the story of how God sent angels to Abraham with the announcement of the punishment to be imposed upon Lot's people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Other verses mention the near-sacrifice of Abraham's son, whose name is not given but is presumed to be Ishmael as the following verses mention the birth of Isaac. The Quran also repeatedly establishes Abraham's role as patriarch and mentions numerous important descendants who came through his lineage, including Isaac, Jacob and Ishmael. In the later chapters of the Quran, Abraham's role becomes yet more prominent. The Quran mentions that Abraham and Ishmael were the reformers who set up the Ka‘bah in Mecca as a center of pilgrimage for monotheism The Quran consistently refers to Islam as "the Religion of Abraham" (millat Ibrahim) and Abraham is given a title as Hanif (The Pure, "true in Faith" or "upright man"). The Quran also mentions Abraham as one whom God took as a friend (Khalil), hence Abraham's title in Islam, Khalil-Allah (Friend of God). The term is considered by some to be a derivation of the patriarch's title, Qal El. Other instances in the Quran which are described in a concise manner are the rescue of Abraham from the fire into which he was thrown by his people'; his pleading for his father; his quarrel with an unrighteous and powerful king and the miracle of the dead birds.
All these events and more have been discussed with more details in Muslim tradition, and especially in the Stories of the Prophets and works of universal Islamic theology. Certain episodes from the life of Abraham have been more heavily detailed in Islamic text, such as the arguments between Abraham and the evil king, Nimrod, the near-sacrifice of his son, and the story of Hagar and Ishmael, which Muslims commemorate when performing pilgrimage in Mecca. An important Islamic religious holiday, Eid al-Adha, commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. In some cases, some believe these legends in Islamic text may have influenced later Jewish tradition.
Biography in Islamic scripture
Youth
See also: Akkadian Empire, Sumer, and Sumerian religion.jpg)
Ruins in the ancient Iraqi city of Ur, 2016, where Ibrahim is thought to have been born, and are thus named "Abraham's House" (30°57′42.75″N 46°06′21.3″E / 30.9618750°N 46.105917°E / 30.9618750; 46.105917)
The Ziggurat of Ur, in 2010.
Ibrahim was born in a house of idolaters in the ancient city of Ur of the Chaldees, likely the place called 'Ur' in present-day Iraq, in which case, the idolaters would have been practitioners of the hypothesized Ancient Mesopotamian religion. His father Azar was a well-known idol-sculptor that his people worshiped. As a young child, Ibrahim used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. When his father was finished with them, Ibrahim would ask his father why they could not move or respond to any request and then would mock them; therefore, his father would always scold him for not following his ancestors' rituals and mocking their idols.
Despite his opposition to idolatry, his father Azar would still send Ibrahim to sell his idols in the marketplace. During one of the many festivals that would take place in the city, the people would gather in their temple and place offerings of food before their idols. Ur's most prominent temple is the Great Ziggurat, which can be seen today. Ibrahim would ask them, "What are you worshipping? Do these idols hear when you call them? Can they help you or hurt you?" The people would reply, "It is the way of our forefathers." Ibrahim declared "I am sick of your gods! Truly I am their enemy."
The great fire
The decision to have Abraham burned at the stake was affirmed by the temple priests and the king of Babylon, Nimrod. The news spread like fire in the kingdom and people were coming from all places to watch the execution. A huge pit was dug up and a large quantity of wood was piled up. Then the biggest fire people ever witnessed was lit. The flames were so high up in the sky that even the birds could not fly over it for fear of being burnt themselves. Ibrahim's hands and feet were chained, and he was put in a catapult, ready to be thrown in. During this time, Angel Gabriel came to him and said: "O Abraham! Is there anything you wish for?" Abraham could have asked to be saved from the fire or to be taken away, but Ibrahim replied, "God is sufficient for me, He is the best disposer of my affairs." The catapult was released and Ibrahim was thrown into the fire. God then gave an order to the fire, "O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim." A miracle occurred, the fire obeyed and burned only his chains. Abraham came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful, his face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes. People watched in shock and exclaimed: "Amazing! Abraham's God has saved him from the fire!"
Confrontation with Nimrod
The Quran discusses a very short conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Abraham. Although the king in the Quran is unnamed, and this fact has been recognized as being least important in the narrative, outside of the Quran, namely in some of the tafasir, this king has been suggested to be Nimrod. This Tafsir by Ibn Kathir, a 14th-century scholar, has many embellishments in the narrative like Nimrod claiming divinity for himself. The Tafsir describes Nimrod's quarrel with Ibrahim, how he (Nimrod) became extremely angry and in his 'utter disbelief and arrant rebellion' became a tyrant.
According to Romano-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Nimrod was a man who set his will against that of God. Nimrod proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects. Nimrod's consort Semiramis was also worshipped as a goddess at his side. Before Abraham was born, a portent in the stars tells Nimrod and his astrologers of the impending birth of Abraham, who would put an end to idolatry. Nimrod therefore orders the killing of all newborn babies. However, Abraham's mother escapes into the fields and gives birth secretly. Flavius Josephus mentions that Abraham confronts Nimrod and tells him face-to-face to cease his idolatry, whereupon Nimrod orders him burned at the stake. Nimrod has his subjects gather enough wood so as to burn Abraham in the biggest fire the world had ever seen. Yet when the fire is lit and Abraham is thrown into it, Abraham walks out unscathed. In Islam, it is debated whether the decision to have Ibrahim burned at the stake came from Nimrod and the temple priests or whether the people themselves became vigilantes and hatched the plan to have him burned at the stake. According to Muslim commentators, after Abraham survived the great fire, notoriety in society grew bigger after this event. Nimrod, who was the King of Babylon felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim coming out of the fire unharmed, a large part of society started believing in God and Abraham being a prophet of God. Up until this point, Nimrod was pretending that he himself was a god. Nimrod wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god and that Ibrahim was a liar. Nimrod asked Ibrahim, "What can your God do that I cannot?" Ibrahim replied, "My Lord is He who gives life and death." Nimrod then shouted, "I give life and death! I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." Abraham replied, "Well, my lord God makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?" Nimrod was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory and in front of his own people. Abraham left him there speechless and went back to his mission of calling people to worship God.
This event has been noted as particularly important because, in the Muslim perspective, it almost foreshadowed the prophetic careers of future prophets, most significantly the career of Moses. Abraham's quarrel with the king has been interpreted by some to be a precursor to Moses's preaching to Pharaoh. Just as the ruler who argued against Abraham claimed divinity for himself, so did the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who refused to hear the call of Moses and perished in the Red Sea. In this particular incident, scholars have further commented on Abraham's wisdom in employing "rational, wise and target-oriented" speech, as opposed to pointless arguments.
Abraham, in the eyes of many Muslims, also symbolized the highest moral values essential to any person. The Qur'an details the account of the angels coming to Abraham to tell him of the birth of Ismael. It says that, as soon as Abraham saw the messengers, he "hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf." This action has been interpreted by all the scholars as exemplary; many scholars have commentated upon this one action, saying that it symbolizes Abraham's exceedingly high moral level and thus is a model for how men should act in a similar situation. This incident has only further heightened the "compassionate" character of Abraham in Muslim theology.
Sacrifice
The classical Quranic exegete and historian Tabari offered two versions, whom Abraham was ordered to sacrifice. According to the first strand, Abraham wished for a righteous son, whereupon an angel appeared to him informing him, that he will get a righteous son, but when he was born and reached puberty, he must be sacrificed for God. Later, the angel appeared to Hagar to inform her about the upcoming child. When Ishmael was grown, someone appeared to Abraham, invites him to keep his vow.
When Ishmael was grown, someone appeared to Abraham in a dream and said to him: "Keep your vow which you made! God bestowed upon you a boy by Hagar so that you may sacrifice him" So he said to Ishmael: "Let us go offer a sacrifice to God!" So he took a knife and some rope and went with him until they reached a place in the mountains. The boy said to him: "Oh father! Where is your sacrifice?" He replied: "Oh my son, I saw in a dream, that I will slaughter you. So pay attention to what you see". He said, "Oh my father, do what you have been commanded; you will find me, Insha-Allah (if God wills), one of the patient". Ishmael then said to him: "Make tight my bonds, so that I will not struggle to pull back your clothes so that none of my blood will be shed on them for Hagar will see it and be grieved. Hurry! Pass the knife over my throat so that death will be easy for me. When you come to Hagar, greet her'. Abraham began to approach him and, while crying, tied him up. Ishmael too was crying such that the tears gathered by the cheek of Ishmael. He then drew the knife along his throat but the knife did not cut, for God had placed a sheet of copper on the throat of Ishmael. When he saw that, he turned him on his forehead and nicked him on the back of the head just as God has said in Quran 37:103: When they had both submitted and he flung on his forehead, that is they had submitted the affair to God. A voice called out: 'Abraham, you have fulfilled the vision!" He turned around and behold, there was a ram. He took it and released his son and he bent over his son saying: "Oh my son, today you have been given to me". That comes in God's saying in Quran 37:107: We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
The second strand, provided by Tabari, states that Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Ishmael, and Iblis appeared in form of a man to prevent the sacrifice.
Iblis (Satan), who had taken on the form of a man, said: "Where are you going, O Shaikh?" He replied: " I am going to these mountains because I must do something there'. Iblis said: "By God, I have seen that Shaytan has come to you in a dream and ordered you to slaughter this little son of yours. And you intend to do that slaughtering!" Thereupon Abraham recognized him and said: "Get away from me, enemy of God! By God, I will most certainly continue to do what my Lord has commanded". Iblis, the enemy of God, gave up on Abraham but then he encountered Ishmael, who was behind Abraham carrying the wood and the large knife. He said to him: "O young man, do you realize where your father is taking you?" He said: "To gather wood for our family from the mountains". He replied: "By God, his actual intention is to sacrifice you!" He said: "Why?!" Iblis replied: "He claims that his Lord has ordered him to do so!" Ishmael replied: "He must do what his Lord commands, absolutely!" When the young man had rebuffed him, Iblis went to Hagar, the mother of Ishmael who was still at home. Iblis said to her: "Oh mother of Ishmael! Do you realize where Abraham is going with Ishmael?" She replied: "They have gone to gather wood for us in the mountains". He said: "He has actually gone in order to sacrifice him!" She replied: "It cannot be! He is too kind and too loving towards him to do that!" Iblis said: "He claims that God has ordered him to do that!" Hagar said: "If his Lord has ordered him to do that then he must submit to the command of God!" So the enemy of God returned exasperated at not being able to influence the family of Abraham as he wished.
This great sacrifice denotes the importance of the ram that replaced Ibraheem's son. Tafsir ibn Kathir records Ibn Abbas' explanation of the verse, according to Muhammad's teachings. The explanation is as follows:
"And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice" (37:107). It was reported that Ibn `Abbas (may God be pleased with him) said, "A ram which had grazed in Paradise for forty years."
— Tafsir Ibn Kathir 37:107
The Tafsir further goes on to say that the ram's horns were preserved until the time of Muhammad:
Imam Ahmad recorded that Safiyyah bint Shaybah said, "A woman from Bani Sulaym, who was the midwife of most of the people in our household, told me that the Messenger of God sent for `Uthman bin Talhah, may God be pleased with him.'' On one occasion she said, "I asked `Uthman, `Why did the Prophet call you' He said, `The Messenger of God said to me, I saw the horns of the ram when I entered the House (i.e., the Ka`bah), and I forgot to tell you to cover them up; cover them up, for there should not be anything in the House which could distract the worshipper.)''' Sufyan said, "The horns of the ram remained hanging in the House until it was burned, and they were burned too.'' The Quraysh had inherited the horns of the ram that Abraham sacrificed, and they had been passed down from generation to generation, until the Messenger of God was sent. And God knows best.
From that day onwards, every Eid al-Adha once a year Muslims around the world slaughter an animal to commemorate Abraham's sacrifice and to remind themselves of self-abnegation in the way of God, and they would share the meat among friends, family, the poor and the needy. This is called Qurbani ("sacrifice").
Miracles
Abraham encountered several miracles of God during his lifetime. The Quran records a few main miracles, although different interpretations have been attributed to the passages. Some of the miracles recorded in the Quran are:
- Abraham was shown the kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth.
- Abraham and the miracle of the birds.
- Abraham was thrown into a fire, which became "cool" and "peaceful" for him.
The first passage has been interpreted both literally, allegorically, and otherwise. Although some commentators feel that this passage referred to a physical miracle, where Abraham was physically shown the entire kingdom of Heaven (Jannah), others have felt that it refers to the spiritual understanding of Abraham; these latter scholars maintain that the Chaldeans were skilled in the observance of the stars, but Abraham, who lived amongst them, saw beyond the physical world and into a higher spiritual realm. The second passage has one mainstream interpretation amongst the Quranic commentators, that Abraham took four birds and cut them up, placing pieces of each on nearby hills; when he called out to them, each piece joined and four birds flew back to Abraham. This miracle, as told by the Quranic passage, was a demonstration by God to show Abraham how God gave life to the dead. As the physical cutting of the birds is not implied in the passage, some commentators have offered alternative interpretations, but all maintain that the miracle was for the same demonstrative purpose to show Abraham the power God has to raise the dead to life. The third passage has also been interpreted both literally and metaphorically, or in some cases both. Commentators state that the 'fire' refers to the main aspects. They maintained that, firstly, the fire referred to the physical flame, from which Abraham was saved unharmed. The commentators further stated that, secondly, the fire referred to the 'fire of persecution', from which Abraham was saved, as he left his people after this with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot.
Title
Abraham is given the title Khalilullah in Islam. The Quran says:
And who is better in faith than those who ˹fully˺ submit themselves to Allah, do good, and follow the Way of Abraham, the upright? Allah chose Abraham as a close friend.
— Surah An-Nisa 4:125
This particular title of Abraham is so famous in Muslim culture and tradition that, in the areas in and around Mecca, Abraham is often referred to solely as The Friend. This title of Friend of God is not exclusive to Islamic theology. Although the other religious traditions do not stress upon it, Abraham is called a Friend of God in the second Book of Chronicles and the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as well as in the New Testament.
Relationship with Islamic shrines
See also: List of mosques that are mentioned by name in the Quran and QiblaOne of Abraham's most important features in Islamic theology is his role as the constructor of the Kaaba. Although tradition recounts that Adam constructed the original Kaaba, which was demolished by the Great Flood at the time of Noah, Abraham is believed to have rebuilt it in its original form. The Quran, in the Muslim perspective, merely confirms or reinforces the laws of pilgrimage. The rites were instituted by Abraham and for all Muslims, as they perform the pilgrimage, the event is a way to return to the perfection of Abraham's faith. Just as Medina is referred to as the "City of the Prophet " or simply the "City of Muhammad", Mecca is frequently cited as the "City of Abraham", because Abraham's reformation of the monotheistic faith is believed to have taken place in Mecca. Likewise, Islamic belief links the original sanctuary of Al-Aqsa in the Old City of Jerusalem to Abraham.
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The most significant mosque in Islam, that is the Mosque of the Kaaba in the Hejazi city of Mecca, is believed to date to the time of Abraham and Ishmael
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The Maqam (Station) of Abraham which is believed by Muslims to contain his footprints, near the Kaaba in Al-Masjid Al-Haram
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Masjid Al-Aqsa, also known as the Temple Mount, Old City of Jerusalem in Shaam, is also believed to date to the lifetime of Abraham
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Suhuf
Main article: Scrolls of AbrahamThe Quran refers to certain Scrolls of Abraham. All Muslim scholars have generally agreed that no scrolls of Abraham survive, and therefore this is a reference to a lost body of scripture. The Scrolls of Abraham are understood by Muslims to refer to certain revelations Abraham received, which he would have then transmitted to writing. The exact contents of the revelation are not described in the Qur'an.
The 87th chapter of the Quran, Surah al-Ala, concludes by saying the subject matter of the sura has been in the earlier scriptures of Abraham and Moses. It is slightly indicative of what were in the previous scriptures, according to Islam:
So ˹always˺ remind ˹with the Quran˺—˹even˺ if the reminder is beneficial ˹only to some˺.
— Surah Al-Ala 87:9–19
Those in awe ˹of Allah˺ will be mindful ˹of it˺.
But it will be shunned by the most wretched,
who will burn in the greatest Fire,
where they will not ˹be able to˺ live or die.
Successful indeed are those who purify themselves,
remember the Name of their Lord, and pray.
But you ˹deniers only˺ prefer the life of this world,
even though the Hereafter is far better and more lasting.
This is certainly ˹mentioned˺ in the earlier Scriptures—
the Scriptures of Abraham and Moses.
Surah an-Najm mentions some more subject matters of the earlier scriptures of Abraham and Musa (Moses):
Or has he not been informed of what is in the Scripture of Moses,
— Surah An-Najm 53:36–62
and ˹that of˺ Abraham, who ˹perfectly˺ fulfilled ˹his covenant˺?
˹They state˺ that no soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another,
and that each person will only have what they endeavoured towards,
and that ˹the outcome of˺ their endeavours will be seen ˹in their record˺,
then they will be fully rewarded,
and that to your Lord ˹alone˺ is the ultimate return ˹of all things˺.
Moreover, He is the One Who brings about joy and sadness.
And He is the One Who gives life and causes death.
And He created the pairs—males and females—
from a sperm-drop when it is emitted.
And it is upon Him to bring about re-creation.
And He is the One Who enriches and impoverishes.
And He alone is the Lord of Sirius.
And He destroyed the first ˹people of˺ ʿĀd,
and ˹then˺ Thamûd, sparing no one.
And before ˹that He destroyed˺ the people of Noah, who were truly far worse in wrongdoing and transgression.
And ˹it was˺ He ˹Who˺ turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down.
How overwhelming was what covered ˹them˺!
Now, which of your Lord’s favours will you dispute?
This ˹Prophet˺ is a warner like earlier ones.
The approaching ˹Hour˺ has drawn near.
None but Allah can disclose it.
Do you find this revelation astonishing,
laughing ˹at it˺ and not weeping ˹in awe˺,
while persisting in heedlessness?
Instead, prostrate to Allah and worship ˹Him alone˺!
Yet some scholars suggested it to be a reference to the Sefer Yetzirah, as Jewish tradition generally ascribed its authorship to Abraham. Other scholars, however, wrote of a certain Testament of Abraham, which they explained was available at the time of Muhammad.
The Quran contains numerous references to Abraham, his life, prayers, and traditions and has a dedicated chapter named Ibrahim. On a relevant note, surah al-Kahf was revealed as an answer from God to the Jews who inquired of Muhammad about past events. Here God directly instructed Muhammad in surah Al-Kahf, not to consult the Jews for verifying the three stories about which they inquired.
Some will say, “They were three, their dog was the fourth,” while others will say, “They were five, their dog was the sixth,” ˹only˺ guessing blindly. And others will say, “They were seven and their dog was the eighth.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “My Lord knows best their ˹exact˺ number. Only a few people know as well.” So do not argue about them except with sure knowledge,1 nor consult any of those ˹who debate˺ about them.
— Surah Al-Kahf 18:22
The reason being God declaring He Himself is relating what needs to be verified in another verse of al-Kahf:
We relate to you ˹O Prophet˺ their story in truth. They were youths who truly believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.
— Surah Al-Kahf 18:13
Regarding consultation with the People of the Book, it is also narrated by Abu Hurairah in hadith:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The people of the Scripture (Jews) used to recite the Torah in Hebrew and they used to explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. On that God's Apostle said, "Do not believe the people of the Scripture or disbelieve them, but say: 'We believe in God and what is revealed to us.'"
— Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, 6:60:12
Therefore, relating to any ascription of the Scrolls of Abraham by the people of the book is not required.
Significance as a patriarch
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Abraham is also extremely important as a leader of Islam and as a patriarch of the Islamic faith. Muslims recognize Abraham as the ancestor through whom many other prophets and saints (Wali) came, including Moses, Jesus (Isa) and Muhammad. The Quran lists, in the sixth chapter, some of the greatest figures to have through Abraham's progeny:
This was the argument We gave Abraham against his people. We elevate in rank whoever We please. Surely your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.
— Quran 6:83–87
And We blessed him with Isaac and Jacob. We guided them all as We previously guided Noah and those among his descendants: David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. This is how We reward the good-doers.
Likewise, ˹We guided˺ Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias, who were all of the righteous.
˹We also guided˺ Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot, favouring each over other people ˹of their time˺.
And ˹We favoured˺ some of their forefathers, their descendants, and their brothers. We chose them and guided them to the Straight Path.
Abraham's narrative in the Quran indirectly refers to his role as one of the great patriarchs. The Quran says that God made Abraham "an Imam to the Nations" and father to Muslims, and his narrative records him praying for his offspring. The Quran further states that Abraham's descendants were given "the Book and Wisdom", and this fact is reinforced in a verse which states that Abraham's family was one of those in which the gift of prophecy was established as a generic trait. The Quran emphasizes upon Abraham's significance as it states that Abraham's family, Noah, Adam and the family of Amram were the four selected by God above all the worlds. As a result of his significance as a patriarch, Abraham is sometimes given the title Father of the Prophets. Of Abraham's immediate sons, the Quran repeatedly establishes the gifts God bestowed upon them. Ishmael, along with Elisha and Dhul-Kifl (possibly Ezekiel), is regarded as being "of the Company of the Good." and one of the men who was given "favour above the nations." In addition, Ishmael is described as being "true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet." Likewise, the Quran says of Isaac that he was "of the company of the Elect and the Good." and was "a prophet,- one of the Righteous." and further describes him as "of Power and Vision."
Burial place
Main article: Cave of the PatriarchsMuslims believe that Abraham was buried, along with his wife Sarah, at the Cave of the Patriarchs in the Old City of Hebron, the West Bank. Known to Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham it is also thought to be the burial site of his son Isaac, his wife Rebecca, their son Jacob, and his wife Leah.
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Cenotaph over Abraham's grave in his mosque at Hebron
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In the section of the cave which is a mosque, this grate allows visitors to look down into a shaft measuring 40 feet (12 metres), which leads to the ground level of the cave where Abraham and Sarah are buried
See also
- Abraham (disambiguation)
- Ibrahim (disambiguation)
- Ibrahim (name)
- Islamic architecture
- Biblical and Quranic narratives
- List of legends in the Quran
- Muhammad in the Quran
Notes
- Arabic: إِبْرَاهِيْمُ, romanized: ʾIbrāhīm; Arabic pronunciation: [ʔɪbraːˈhiːm]; the name appears in early Quranic manuscripts in two different spellings, either أبرهَم (Abraham) or إبرهيم (Ibrahim)
- Roohul Ma'ani, 7/194,95.
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 2, p. 100.
- Al-Dur al-Manthur, vol. 3, p. 43.
- Niazi, Yama (6 October 2022). "Will All Believers and Their Non-Muslim Parents Be Forgiven?". Seekers Guidance. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
The Prophet Ibrahim's actual father was a Muslim. His name is given as Tarakh by historians.
- ^ Sajjadi, Sadeq (2015) . "Abraham". In Madelung, Wilferd; Daftary, Farhad (eds.). Encyclopaedia Islamica. Vol. 1. Translated by Negahban, Farzin. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. doi:10.1163/1875-9831_isla_COM_0028. ISBN 978-90-04-16860-2. ISSN 1875-9823.
- Quran 87:19
- ^ Siddiqui, Mona. "Ibrahim – the Muslim view of Ibrahim". Religions. BBC. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ Quran 2:124
- Quran 16:120
- ^ Glassé, Cyril (1991). "Abraham". Kaaba. The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam. HarperSanFrancisco, Suhail Academy. pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-0606-3126-0.
- Quran 2:128
- Quran 87:18–19 and 53:36–37
- Quran 53:37
- Quran 6:74
- Quran 37:83–89, 26:68–89, 19:41–50, 43:26–28, 21:51–73, 29:16–28 and 6:74–84
- Quran 52:24–34, 25:51–60, 11:69–76 and 29:31
- Quran 37:100–111
- Quran 25:53
- Quran 29:49, 21:72, 29:27, 6:84, 11:71 and 38:45–47
- Quran 2:132–133
- Quran 2:123–141, 3:65–68, 3:95–97, 4:125, 4:26–29 and 22:78
- Quran 2:135
- Quran 3:67
- Quran 4:125
- Weinstein, Simcha (2006). Up, Up, and Oy Vey! (1st ed.). Leviathan Press. ISBN 978-1-881927-32-7
- World Jewish Digest (Aug 2006; posted online 25 July 2006): "Superman's Other Secret Identity", by Jeff Fleischer
- Quran 37:97 and 21:68–70
- Quran 21:51–73
- Quran 28:47
- Quran 2:58
- ^ Quran 2:260
- Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, Ibrahim; Tales of the Prophets, Kisa'i, Ibrahim
- Diversity Calendar: Eid al-Adha Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine University of Kansas Medical Center
- J. Eisenberg, EI, Ibrahim
- "QTafsir Tafsir Ibn Kathir Mobile". m.qtafsir.com.
- Zettler, R. L.; Horne, L., eds. (1998), Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- "Stories of the Prophets | Alim.org". www.alim.org. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- Quran 21:69
- Quran 2:258
- "Tafsir Surah 2:258". quranx.com. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- History of the Prophets and Kings, Tabari, Vol. I: Prophets and Patriarchs
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir 2:258
- "The Father of the Prophets". islamicity.com.
- "Ibn Kathir: Story of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (pbuh)". islamawareness.net.
- Book 1: The Prophet Abraham, Harun Yahya, The Unbeliever Advised By Abraham, Online.
- Quran 11:69
- Rippin, Andrew; Knappert, Jan (15 October 1990). Textual Sources for the Study of Islam. The University of Chicago Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-2267-2063-0.
- ^ Tafsir Ibn Kathir 37:107
- "Deeper Meaning of Sacrifice in Islam" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- Quran 6:75
- Quran 21:68–70
- The Book of Certainty, M. Lings, S. Academy Publishing
- Stories of the Prophets, Kisa'i/Kathir, Story of Abraham
- Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, note. 285
- Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, note. 2703
- Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now, M. Lings. Archetype Books
- Isaiah 41:8 and 2 Chronicles 20:7
- James 2:23
- Lings, Martin (1983). Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. Islamic Texts Society. ISBN 978-0-946621-33-0.
- ^ Michigan Consortium for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (1986). Goss, V. P.; Bornstein, C. V. (eds.). The Meeting of Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades. Vol. 21. Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University. p. 208. ISBN 0918720583.
- A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, B. M. Wheeler, Abraham
- Tafsir and Commentary on 87: 18–19 & 53: 36–37, Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Asad
- See also Islamic view of David, Islamic view of Solomon, Job (prophet) and Islamic view of Joseph
- Quran 22:78
- Quran 14:35
- Quran 4:54
- Quran 19:58
- Quran 3:33
- Quran 38:48
- Quran 6:86
- Quran 19:54
- Quran 38:47
- Quran 37:112
- Quran 38:45
- Emmett, Chad F. (2000). "Sharing Sacred Space in the Holy Land". In Murphy, Alexander B.; Johnson, Douglas L.; Haarmann, Viola (eds.). Cultural encounters with the environment: enduring and evolving geographic themes. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 271–291. ISBN 978-0-7425-0106-5.
- Gish, Arthur G. (20 December 2018). Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-5326-6213-3.
References
- Saad Assel, Mary (2010). 25 Icons of Peace in the Qur'an: Lessons of Harmony. iUniverse. p. 244. ISBN 9781440169014.
- Mehar, Iftikhar Ahmed (2003). Al-Islam: Inception to Conclusion. AL-ISLAM. p. 240. ISBN 9781410732729.
- Islam Kotob. Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir. Islamic Books.
- Lalljee, compiled by Yousuf N. (1993). Know your Islam (3rd ed.). New York: Taknike Tarsile Quran. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-940368-02-6.
Further reading
General
- P.J. Bearman; Th. Bianquis; Clifford Edmund Bosworth; E. van Donzel; W.P. Heinrichs (eds.). "Ibrāhīm". Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912.
Abraham and the Kaaba
- Martin Lings, Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now, Archetype
- Leila Azzam, Lives of the Prophets, Abraham and the Kaaba, Suhail Academy
Abraham's life
- Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings, Vol. II: Prophets and Patriarchs
- Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, Chapter VI: Story of Abraham
External links
- The Story of the Prophet Ibrahim & His Wife Hajar Archived 28 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- The Sacrifice Of Abraham: Isaac or Ishmael?
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| Linear genealogy of Muhammad from the first couple, according to various sources | |
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| Generations after Creation | |
| Ibrahim | |
| Tribe of the Adnanites | |
| Quraysh tribe | |
| The House of Hashim | |