Remembering Prophet Ibrahim عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Part 2)

Quranic Exegesis

Remembering Prophet Ībrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Part 2)

Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

Encountering difficulties when propagating the Truth

When calling people to believe in Allah Almighty’s oneness and during his endeavours to destroy polytheism, Prophet Ībrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم once destroyed a series of idols. To highlight the helplessness of these statues, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم then said to his nation, “Ask these idols who did this to them.” Instead of amending their ways, the nation instead decided to try and burn the Prophet in fire.

Ībrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم remained steadfast and Allah Almighty protected him.

قَالُوْا حَرِّقُوْهُ وَ انْصُرُوْۤا اٰلِهَتَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ فٰعِلِیْنَ(۶۸) قُلْنَا یٰنَارُ كُوْنِیْ بَرْدًا وَّ سَلٰمًا عَلٰۤى اِبْرٰهِیْمَۙ(۶۹)

They said, “Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to take action.” We said, “O fire!  Become cool and safe for Ibrāhīm.”[1]

He then left his homeland and people for the sake of Allah Almighty. The noble Quran also describes what he said at that time:

وَ قَالَ اِنِّیْ ذَاهِبٌ اِلٰى رَبِّیْ سَیَهْدِیْنِ(۹۹)

And he said, “Indeed I am going to my Lord , so He will guide me.[2]

His love for Allah Almighty

His indescribable love for Allah Almighty is a prominent facet of his sacred life. The greatest evidence of love is to sacrifice everything for one’s beloved, and this illustrious Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم provided practical example of this by presenting his very life for sacrifice.

The noble Quran states:

قَالُوْا حَرِّقُوْهُ وَ انْصُرُوْۤا اٰلِهَتَكُمْ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ فٰعِلِیْنَ(۶۸) قُلْنَا یٰنَارُ كُوْنِیْ بَرْدًا وَّ سَلٰمًا عَلٰۤى اِبْرٰهِیْمَۙ(۶۹)

They said, “Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to take action.” We said, “O fire!  Become cool and safe for Ibrāhīm.”[3]

He was even prepared to sacrifice his darling son in the way of Allah Almighty.

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْیَ قَالَ یٰبُنَیَّ اِنِّیْۤ اَرٰى فِی الْمَنَامِ اَنِّیْۤ اَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرٰىؕ-قَالَ یٰۤاَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ٘-سَتَجِدُنِیْۤ اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِیْنَ(۱۰۲)

When he reached the age of striving in his company, he said, “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you, so consider; what is your opinion?”  He said, “O my father! Do what you have been commanded to do. If Allah wills, you shall soon find me to be among the patient.”[4]

Acting upon the command of Allah Almighty and out of love for Him, he then left his children in the wilderness.

رَبَّنَاۤ اِنِّیْۤ اَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ بِوَادٍ غَیْرِ ذِیْ زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَیْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِۙ -رَبَّنَا لِیُقِیْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ فَاجْعَلْ اَفْىٕدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِیْۤ اِلَیْهِمْ وَ ارْزُقْهُمْ مِّنَ الثَّمَرٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَشْكُرُوْنَ(۳۷)

O Lord of ours! I have made some of my progeny settle in a barren valley near Your Sacred House, O our Lord, that they establish the prayer, so make the hearts of the people inclined to them and grant them sustenance of fruits that they may be grateful.[5]

He devoted his entire life to loving Allah Almighty, becoming an example of this verse:

قُلْ اِنَّ صَلَاتِیْ وَ نُسُكِیْ وَ مَحْیَایَ وَ مَمَاتِیْ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَۙ(۱۶۲)

Say, “Indeed, my prayer, and my sacrifices, and my living, and my dying are all for Allah alone; Lord of all the worlds.[6]

Another of his statements is included in the noble Quran:

وَ الَّذِیْۤ اَطْمَعُ اَنْ یَّغْفِرَ لِیْ خَطِیْٓــٴَـتِیْ یَوْمَ الدِّیْنِؕ(۸۲)

and Who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgement.[7]

This verse teaches us that having hope in Allah Almighty and seeking to please Him are signs of love for Him.

Successful in his tests

Prophet Ībrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was successful in every test he faced, such that Allah Almighty announced his triumphs in the noble Quran:

وَ اِذِ ابْتَلٰۤى اِبْرٰهٖمَ رَبُّهٗ بِكَلِمٰتٍ فَاَتَمَّهُنَّؕ-

And remember when his Lord tested Ibrāhīm through some words, so he fulfilled them.[8]

وَ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ الَّذِیْ وَفّٰۤىۙ(۳۷)

and Ibrāhīm who fulfilled ˹all obligations˺?[9]

فَلَمَّاۤ اَسْلَمَا وَ تَلَّهٗ لِلْجَبِیْنِۚ(۱۰۳) وَ نَادَیْنٰهُ اَنْ یّٰۤاِبْرٰهِیْمُۙ(۱۰۴) قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّءْیَاۚ-اِنَّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجْزِی الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ(۱۰۵) اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلٰٓؤُا الْمُبِیْنُ(۱۰۶) وَ فَدَیْنٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِیْمٍ(۱۰۷) وَ تَرَكْنَا عَلَیْهِ فِی الْاٰخِرِیْنَۖ(۱۰۸) سَلٰمٌ عَلٰۤى اِبْرٰهِیْمَ(۱۰۹) كَذٰلِكَ نَجْزِی الْمُحْسِنِیْنَ(۱۱۰) اِنَّهٗ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ(۱۱۱)

So, when both submitted and he (Ibrāhīm) laid him (his son) down upon his forehead. And We called out to him, “O Ibrāhīm! You have certainly fulfilled the dream; thus We reward the virtuous.” Indeed, this was a clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. And We maintained his praise among the later generations. Peace be upon Ibrāhīm. Thus, We recompense the virtuous. He is from Our people who have the highest level of perfect faith.[10]

Thankfulness

Allah Almighty explains the thankful nature of this esteemed Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم by declaring:

شَاكِرًا لِّاَنْعُمِهٖؕ-

Grateful for His Favours.[11]

Forbearance and compassion for Allah Almighty’s creation

His patience is evident through all the trials he faced, whilst his compassion can be seen when he repeatedly asked for a delay in the nation of Lūṭ’s punishment arriving. The noble Quran attests to this:

اِنَّ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ لَحَلِیْمٌ اَوَّاهٌ مُّنِیْبٌ(۷۵)

Indeed, Ibrāhīm is forbearing, very tender-hearted, and one who returns ˹to Allah˺.[12]

Returning to Allah Almighty

Returning to Allah Almighty in every matter again and again, and continuously expressing humility and supplicating to Him; these are traits of those beloved to Allah Almighty. The prayers of Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم in the noble Quran prove this.

He once said regarding Allah Almighty:

وَ الَّذِیْۤ اَطْمَعُ اَنْ یَّغْفِرَ لِیْ خَطِیْٓــٴَـتِیْ یَوْمَ الدِّیْنِؕ(۸۲)

and Who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgement.[13]

He described Allah Almighty’s favours as such:

الَّذِیْ خَلَقَنِیْ فَهُوَ یَهْدِیْنِۙ(۷۸) وَ الَّذِیْ هُوَ یُطْعِمُنِیْ وَ یَسْقِیْنِۙ(۷۹) وَ اِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ یَشْفِیْنِﭪ(۸۰) وَ الَّذِیْ یُمِیْتُنِیْ ثُمَّ یُحْیِیْنِۙ(۸۱)

Who created me and guides me; Who feeds me and gives me to drink; when I fall ill, He heals me; Who will cause me to die and will then resurrect me;[14]

He also left everything in this world and turned to Allah Almighty:

اِنِّیْ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِیَ لِلَّذِیْ فَطَرَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ حَنِیْفًا وَّ مَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِیْنَۚ(۷۹)

I have turned my face, refraining from all falsehood, to the One Who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists.[15]

He also said:

وَ قَالَ اِنِّیْ ذَاهِبٌ اِلٰى رَبِّیْ سَیَهْدِیْنِ(۹۹)

Indeed, I am going to my Lord , so He will guide me.[16]

We have only read certain aspects of his blessed life, such as his complete faith, courage, strength, patience, gratefulness and compassion. It is necessary for us to adopt these characteristics, as his blessed life contains excellent advice and guidance.

Allah Almighty states regarding the beauty of Prophet Ibrāhīm’s عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم life:

قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ اُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِیْۤ اِبْرٰهِیْمَ وَ الَّذِیْنَ مَعَهٗۚ-

Indeed, you had an exceptional example in Ibrāhīm and his companions.[17]

It is essential for us to enlighten our hearts by adopting these attributes, such as love for Allah Almighty, compassion towards creation, returning to Allah Almighty, patience when faced with difficulty, seeking to please Allah Almighty, and perfecting our faith. May Allah Almighty grant us the blessings of this renowned Prophet عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. اٰمِیْنْ