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However, when it set, he remarked: "I do not like those the setting ones. "(1) And when the moon split the widely- open horizon, inciting the moon- worshippers to begin their worship, joining them he shouted: "This is my Lord! " But when it set, he said: 'If my Lord does not guide me I shall surely be of the people gone astray'. " When the sun split the darkness of night, shedding its golden rays over the mountains and plains, the sun- worshippers went on with their prayers. Then, Abraham said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest! But when it set, he said: 'O' my people! Surely I am quit of that you associate (with Allah) '. " All these have got falls. They are at the mercy of change and are as puppets at the hands of creation and they have no feelings and will power of their own much less that they should be deemed as creator and administrator of this world: "Verily I have turned my face (myself wholly) toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, being upright, and I am not of the idolaters. "(2)
'Ibrahim left behind this stage of his campaign against the idol- worshippers in the most efficient way and could awaken some, while seeking to make others at least skeptic. He was soon subject of rumour in that region as to whom he might be who can affect masses of people's hearts, leaving such an impact on them with such an explicit and straightforward logic.
Dialogue with 'Azar
Abraham got engaged in a conversation with his uncle at another stage, and by using explicit and far- reaching speech
(1) Sura Al- 'An'am, No. 6, verse 76
(2) Ibid, verses 77- 79
coupled with affection and, at times, with warnings regarding idol- worshipping, told him: Why do you worship something which can not hear, can not see, and can not solve any problems you have If you follow me, I shall lead you in the right path. I am scared that soon you may face the Divine punishment if you follow the Satan.
Even, at the time when his uncle threatened him to stone him to death when he was admonishing him, he used the sentence "Peace be upon you! Saying: I shall ask my Lord to forgive you"(1), and he tried to find a way through his stone like heart.
The prophetic Mission of 'Ibrahim
As for the age when Abraham attained to the position of the prophetic mission, we have no access to clear evidence. However, we can conclude from Sura Maryam, that he had attained to the rank of his prophetic mission when he engaged in the dialogue with his uncle, for we read in this Sura addressing the prophet (p.b.u.h.) : "And mention in the Book; verily he was a truthful man, a prophet. " "When he said to his father (i. e. his uncle) : 'O my father! Why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees, nor does avail you in aught ?"(2)
We know that this adventure took place before an extensive entanglement with the idol- worshippers and his being was about to be burned by them. If we add what some historians have written saying that Abraham was only 61 years of age when setting of him a flame took place, it becomes clear that he was appointed to achieve his great mission even as early as his adolescence.
(1) Sura Maryam, No. 19, verse 47
(2) Ibid, verses 41- 42
Practical Campaigns Against the Idol- worshippers
Anyway, 'Ibrahim's involvement with the idol- worshippers reached greater proportions day by day which, eventually, terminated in breaking of all the idols of temple of Babylon except the great idol.
þDialogue with the oppressive Ruler:
The affairs regarding the opposition and campaign of Abraham (a.s.) with the idols finally reached Nimroud. He summoned him so as to silence him by the way of advising, or by warning, or by threatening him. He, who was very advert in sophisticating, asked Abraham if he did not worship the idols, who was then his Lord He answered the same one whose life and death are in His own hands: " My Lord is He Who gives life and causes to die. ' " He shouted: O you unaware person! This is in my hands! Do you not see how I command the offender who is to be executed to be freed, and how I stop his execution or I order the execution of the prisoner who is not convicted to be executed 'Ibrahim, who was advert in giving extraordinary sharp answers, seeking assistance from his prophetic power, told him: It is not but the matters of death and life which are in His hands; all of the affairs of the world of existence are at His command. Do you not see how the sun rises from the east every morning by His order and sets in the west If you rule the entire world of existence, reverse the process, so that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Nimroud was so astonished that he lost his ability to talk to him .(1)
(1) Sura Al- Baqarah, No. 2, verse 258
Undoubtedly, 'Ibrahim knew that Nimroud was playing with words as regards having power of life and death. However, his skill in reasoning did not permit the enemy side to win him over in his argument. Thus he abdicated that soon and stuck to a different method in which he got the enemy caught.
The Exodus of 'Ibrahim
At long last, the government of Nimroud, who felt that the youth was organizing a dangerous campaign threatening his despotic rule, by his clear logic and his expressive powerful tongue decided to put an end to the life of 'Ibrahim by aggrandizement of the fanatical ignorance of the idol- worshippers. He feared that the eloquent language and powerful thinking coupled with his sound logic would awaken the oppressed masses, and finally break up the chains of his exploitations. He then organized certain ceremonies (which will be discussed later, in Sura 'Anbiya) to burn him alive in an inferno of fire which was prepared by the help of the ignorance of the masses and the crime of the dominant system, in order to be delivered from him for ever.
However, as the fire was put off by the command of Allah and Abraham was saved from that scenario intact, Nimroud's system started trembling in such a way that Nimroud lost his morale, as Abraham was no more an adventurous young man who was planting seeds of discord the labeling which Nimroud had addressed him with. Abraham was then regarded as a Divine leader and a brave champion who could by himself and single- handedly invade his powerful enemies and overcome them all.
It was for this reason that Nimroud and his courtiers, who used to suck the blood of the poor people like leeches, decided
to stand up against Abraham with all their powers to guarantee the safety of their regime and fight him to the end.
On the other hand, Abraham had secured his share from that group. That is, those who had receptive hearts had believed in him. He found it more convenient to depart from the land of Babylon along with his companions and the population of the faithful and to spread the call of Allah to the people of Damascus, Palestine, and Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs. He could propagate the truth of monotheism in those regions and call numerous people to become faithful to the worshipping of Allah, the only One.
The Last Stage of the Prophetic Mission of 'Ibrahim
'Ibrahim spent a whole life- time campaigning against worshipping the idols in all its forms especially the 'worshipping of man' and could enlighten the ones who were ready with the light of monotheism and provide them with a new life, thus liberating numerous groups from the chains of the despots. Now it was time to enter the last stage of Allah's worshipping and servitude to Him and offering Him whatever he possessed with utmost sincerity, so that to pass successfully all the great Divine trials with a great leap forward in spiritual matters which would culminate in his 'Imamate' and leader- ship' of men. Simultaneous with this matter, he erected the pillars of the House of monotheism, 'the House of Ka'bah' and turned it into a unique center for worshipping Allah. This he did to call all the believers to this great conference near this huge and fantastic as well as splendid 'house of monotheism'.
His adventures about the jealousy of Sara, his first wife, with 'Hajar', the slave whom he had accepted as his wife and had given birth to a son called Ishmael, caused him to take the mother and infant child and depart them from the land of
Palestine to the arid desert of Mecca, within those rugged mountains. Upon Allah's command, they went to a land where not even a drop of water was to be found, in order to pass a great test.
þThe discovery of the spring Zamzam, and the arrival of the tribe Jarham, who asked the permission of Hajar to dwell in that region, has got a lengthy history along with others, all of which led to the development of that land. 'Ibrahim had asked Allah to make that area into a well- developed city and an affluent one, and attract the attention of the people on that spot where his family was residing.(1)
It is interesting to note that some historians have cited that when Abraham was locating the baby Ishmael and Hajar in the land of Mecca and wanted to return, calling him Hajar asked 'Ibrahim as to who had commanded him to take them to a land where no vegetation was found and no milk- providing animals existed, and not a single drop of water was to be found, all of which took place with no storage of food and no companions. 'Ibrahim answered her in a concise statement. "My Lord Who has commanded me so! " As soon as Hajar heard this response, she said: "Now that such is the case, Allah will never leave us alone".
Abraham repeatedly came from Palestine to Mecca to visit Ishmael and it was in the course of one of such trips during which he performed the Hajj pilgrimage rituals. It was by the command of Allah that he took his son, who was in his teens as an extraordinary faithful and clean individual, to the sacrificing spot and got ready to sacrifice him, who was the best he had to offer Allah by his own hands.
(1) Sura 'Ibrahim, No. 14, verses 31- 37
þWhen this most important trial was staged in its best form and he (a.s.) went through all the processes to the end, Allah accepted the sacrifice and preserved Ishmael for him, sending him a sheep to replace his sacrifice .(1)
Ultimately, after all the trials and out of all tests, 'Ibrahim attained the highest rank which a perfect man can ever reach and thus received promotion and as the blissful Qur'an implies that Allah tried 'Ibrahim with certain words and he got through with them all, after which He told him that he was appointed as the leader and 'Imam'. Transported with joy, 'Ibrahim asked that this position be awarded to some of his children as well. His call was accepted but on condition that He would not bestow such a position on those who had been oppressors or had committed any atrocities. The holy Qur'an says: " And (remember) when his Lord tested Abraham with words (of command) which he fulfilled, He said: 'Verily I have appointed you an Imam (leader) for mankind. " (Abraham) pleaded: 'And of my offspring (as well) ?' He (Allah) said: 'My covenant does not incline the unjust'. "
The Highly- esteemed position of 'Ibrahim in the Qur'an
A study of the holy verses of the Qur'an reveals the fact that Allah has appointed a very highly- esteemed position to Abraham, a rank which has been accorded to no other prophet. One can draw his conclusions as to this matter by considering the following expressions:
1- Allah has made mention of 'Ibrahim as a 'nation' and praises his personality as a nation as well. (Sura An- Nah l, No. 16, verse 120)
(1) Sura As- S afat, No. 37, verses 104 to 107
2- Allah has accorded the position of 'Divine friend' to him. " And Allah took Abraham as a friend. "(1)
It is interesting to note that in some quotations we read as to the commentary of this verse that: Such a high position was bestowed on Abraham for he never asked anyone anything, and he never despaired anyone who requested him something .(2)
3- He was from among the good ones (Sura S ad, No. 38 verse 47) the righteous ones (Sura An- Nah l, No. 16, verse 123) , the content ones (Sura An- Nah l, No. 16, verse 125) , the truthful ones (Sura Maryam, No. 19, verse 41) , the forbearing ones (Sura At- Taubah, No. 9, verse 114) , and the keepers of promises (Sura An- Najm, No. 53, verse 37)
4- Abraham was very hospitable (Sura Ath- Thariyat, No. 51, verses 24- 27) ; as one finds in some quotations, he is referred to as 'The father or the lord of the guests' (Safinat- ul- Bihar, vol. 1. p. 74)
5- He was unique in trusting Allah, as far as he relied on no one but on Allah in everything and under all circumstances. He would ask Him as to whatever he wanted, and he referred only to Him. (Sura Ash- Shu'ara, No. 26 verses 78 to 82) The story of the angel's proposals for his deliverance when the obstinate nation wanted to throw him into the fire and his lack of acceptance has been recorded in history books. He used to say: "I am needy all over, but I am in need of assistance from the Creator, not from those who themselves are the created ones. (Kamil- ibn- Athir, vol. 1, p. 99)
6- He was unique in bravery and courage and he used to stand up against the challenging fanaticism of the idol- worshippers single- handedly, and would leave no room for the
(1) Sura An- Nisa, No. 4, verse 125
(2) Safinat- ul- Bihar, vol. 1. p. 74.
slightest fear and terror. He used their idols as subjects of his ridicule and turned their temples into ruins, and addressed Nimroud and his guards with a unique courage, each of which has been mentioned in several of the verses of the Qur'an.
7- 'Ibrahim had an extraordinary powerful logic. He used concise, firm, and reasonable language while addressing his seduced opponents. By his explicitly sound logic, he would bring these obstinate enemies down to earth, never losing ground to them.
He never became angry as a result of their intensive rudeness. Contrarily, he used to face them in cold blood which reflected his elevated spirit. He used to hand them their condemnation papers with his solemn words and deeds which have been covered in the story of dispute of Abraham with Nimroud and with his uncle and with the court trial of Babylon when they wanted to condemn him for his theistic belief and for breaking up of the idols.
Concentrate on the following verses which have been dealt with in Sura Al- 'Anbiya:
When the judges asked him as to whether it was he who had done all those offences to their gods, breaking up of all their small and big idols, he answered: " surely (some doer) has done it; the chief of them is this, therefore ask them, if they can speak. "(1) This he said to corner them in an awful deadlock out of which they could not escape.
He placed his opponents in an awful situation by declaring this single sentence. For, if they answered that their idols were dumb and deaf and unable to speak, they would be feeling ashamed for such of mute and irresponsible god. If they accepted that they were able to speak, they should ask and hear
(1) Sura Al- 'Anbiya, No. 21, verse 63
the answer from them. It was on this occasion that their dormant conscience was aroused and discovered themselves. They would hear words from within themselves which shouted that they were oppressors, selfish and tyrants. That is, you are having neither any mercy on yourselves nor do you show any mercy on the community to which you belong.
Anyway, they had necessarily had to provide an answer. Thus, they uttered these words while being humiliated with to utmost that: "You well know that these idols cannot speak. " It was at this moment that the pounding words of Abraham struck them like thunderbolt. He shouted: "Woe unto you for worshipping any one but Allah. O' brainless people! Fie on you and on what you serve besides Allah; What! Do you not understand "?(1)
Ultimately, as they did not find the power to stand up against the strong logic of 'Ibrahim in them, as is the case with all oppressors, they took to the logic of force and declared that he should be burned alive.
þTo fulfill their aim, they utilized the blind fanaticism of the worshippers of the idols and hastened to call them to help their gods. "Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to do (anything) '. "(2) This was an example of the explicit, reasonable, and decisive logic of 'Ibrahim.
8- It is interesting to note that the Qur'an considers this as one of the sources of pride for the Muslims to be adherents of 'Ibrahim. And it was he who called them by the name of 'Muslims'.(3) Even, in order to encourage Muslims, the Qur'an calls to their minds that they must imitate 'Ibrahim and his
(1) Ibid, verse 67
(2) Ibid, verse 68
(3) Sura Al- Hajj, No. 22, verse 78
companions for achieving some of the important objectives. (Sura Mumtah anah, No. 60, verse 4)
9- The rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage, with all its splendour, have been initiated by 'Ibrahim and upon Allah's command. Therefore, the name of 'Ibrahim and the memory of 'Ibrahim have been associated with Hajj. (Sura Al- Hajj, No. 22, verse 27) . And man is reminded of this Divine prophet at any moment and with every part of the splendid ceremonies of Hajj, so that he feels the grandeur of this man in the bottom of his heart. In principle, the performance of the Hajj rituals is meaningless without the name of Abraham.
10- The personality of 'Ibrahim was so elevated that every group sought to consider him as one of their own. The Jews and the Christians each stressed their relationship with him. The Holy Qur'an, answering them, however, insisted that he (s.w.t.) was only a Muslim and a true monotheist. That is, he was subservient to all of Allah's commandments and submissive to Him; he never thought of anyone but Him and he never would take any steps except in the path shown by Him. (Sura 'Al- i- 'Imran, No. 3, verse 67)
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