Description of Abraham and his Family
Some of the People of the Book stated that his name was Abraham Ibn Tarikh,
Ibn Nahur, Ibn
Sarough, Ibn Raghu, Ibn Phaligh, Ibn Aher, Ibn Shalih, Ibn Arfghshand, Ibn
Sam, Ibn Noah.
They said that when Tarikh was seventy five years old, he had Abraham,
Nahor (Nohour) and
Haran. Haran had a son named Lot. They also said that Abraham was the middle
child and that
Haran died in the lifetime of his father in the land where he was born, the
land of the Chaldeans
(Al Kaldanieen), also known as Babylonia. At that time some people worshipped
idols of stone
and wood; others worshipped the planets, stars, sun and moon; still others
worshipped their kings
and rulers.
Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typical family of that ancient
time. The head of the
family was not even an ordinary idolater, but was one who totally rejected
Allah and who used to
make the idols with his own hands. Some traditions claimed that Abraham's
father died before his
birth and he was raised by an uncle whom Abraham called father. Other
traditions said that his
father was alive and was named Azer.
Into that family Abraham was born, destined to stand against his own family,
against the entire
system of his community. In brief, he stood against all kinds of polytheism.
Abraham's Childhood
He was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early age. Allah
enlightened his heart and
mind gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah the Almighty stated:
"Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We
were Well
Acquainted with him( as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51)
During his early childhood Abraham realized that his father made strange
statues. One day, he
asked him about what it was he made. His father replied that he made statues
of gods. Abraham
was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child he played
with such statues
sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of donkeys and mules.
One day his father saw him riding the statue of Mardukh and he became furious.
He ordered his
son not to play with it again.
Abraham asked: "What is this statue, father? It has big ears, bigger than
ours."
His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! These big ears show
his deep
knowledge."
This made Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time.
Abraham's Hatred for Idols
Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood his heart had been full of
hatred for these
idols. He could not understand how a sane person could make a statue and then
worship what he
had made. He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink or talk and they
could not even turn
themselves right side up if someone turned them upside down. How, then could
people believe
that such statues could harm or benefit them? Abraham 's people had a big
temple full of idols, in
the middle of which was a niche accommodating the biggest gods which was of
different kinds,
qualities and shapes. Abraham, who used to go to the temple with his father
when he was a child,
greatly despised all that wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his
people behaved
when they entered the temple; they bowed and started to cry, begging and
imploring their gods
for help as if the idols could hear or understand these requests!
At first, such a sight seemed funny to Abraham, but later he began to feel
angry. Was it not
astonishing that all those people could be deceived? What added to the problem
was that his
father wanted him to be a priest when he was grown. He wanted nothing more
from his son that
that he revere those statues, yet Abraham never stopped displaying his hatred
and disdain of them.
Abraham Discovers Allah
One night Abraham left his house to go to a mountain. He walked alone in
the dark until he chose
a cave in the mountain where he sat resting his back against its wall. He
looked at the sky. He had
hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets and stars
which were
worshipped by some people on earth. His young heart was filled with tremendous
pain. He
considered what was beyond the moon, the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah)
and was astonished
that these celestial bodies were worshipped by men when they had been created
to worship and
obey their Creator, appearing and disappearing at His command.
Abraham Breaks the Idols
He explained to them the beauty of Allah's creation, His power and wisdom.
Idol worship is
detested by Allah for Allah is the Lord of the universe Who created mankind,
guided him and
provided him with food and drink and cured him when he was sick and Who will
cause him to die
and be raised up again. iT was He to Whom Abraham prayed and Who would
forgive his sins on
the Day of Judgment. However, they would not give up but clung fast to
idolatry. Abraham left
his father's house and abandoned his people and what they worshipped. He
decide to do
something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew
that there was going to be
a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would be attended
by all the people.
Abraham waited until the city was empty, then came out cautiously, directing
his steps towards
the temple. the streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was
deserted for the priests
had also gone to the festival outside the city. Abraham went there carrying
a sharp axe. He looked
at the stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of
them as offerings. He
approached one of the statues and asked: "The food in front of you is
getting cold. Why don't you
eat?" the statue kept silent and rigid. Abraham asked all the other statues
around him:
"Will you not eat of the offering before you?" (Ch 37:91)
He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked
then:
"What is the matter with you that you do not speak?" (Ch 37:92)
He then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped
by the people. He
destroyed them all except one on whose neck he hung the axe. After this his
anger subsides and
he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his
people a practical proof
of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah.
The Idolaters Try to burn Abraham
Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into
the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather
wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were
cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham. For several days they
collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it.
They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was
put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire was ready with its
flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the
great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the
fire. The angel Gabriel came near Abraham's head and asked him: "O Abraham do
you wish for anything?" Abraham replied: "Nothing from you." The catapult was
shot and Abraham was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as
descent on steps in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did
not burn for Allah the Almighty had issued His command: "O fire! Be you
coolness and safety for Abraham." (Ch 21:69 Quran) The fire submitted to the
will of Allah, becoming cool and safe for Abraham. It only burned his bonds,
and he sat in the midst of the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He
glorified and praised Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his
love for Allah. There was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, or
worry. It was filled with love only. Fear and awe were dead, and the fire was
turned into coolness, making the air pleasant. Those who love Allah as Abraham
do did not fear.
Abraham Questions Resurrection
Abraham lived on earth worshipping Allah and calling people to
monotheism, but he was
journeying to Allah, knowing that his days on earth were limited and that they
would be followed
by death and finally resurrection. The knowledge of life after death filled
Abraham with peace and
love and certitude. One day he begged Allah to show him how He brought the
dead back to life.
Allah commanded Abraham to take four birds, cut them up and mingle their body
parts, divide
them into four portions and place them on top of four different hills, then
call back the birds in
Allah's name. Abraham did as he was told. Immediately the mingled parts of the
birds separated to
join their original bodies in different places and the birds flew back to
Abraham.
Almighty Allah revealed:
“Remember when Abraham said: ‘My Lord Show me how You give life to the dead."
Allah said:
"Do you not believe?" Abraham said: "Yes I believe, but to be stronger in
Faith." HE said:
"Take four birds, the cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them,
cut them into
pieces) and then put a portion of them on every hill and call them they will
come to you in haste.
And know that Allah is All Mighty and All Wise."(Ch 2:260 Quran)
