At all times, people who proved their God's election by numerous miracles, as Muslims point out, called for monotheism. Allah gave his creatures all the necessary tools and means so that each of them could fit into the perfection of being. People who have enough mind and will need only knowledge of the right path. For this they need prophets, because, as history shows, they cannot find the truth on their own. One of them was Ibrahim, a prophet who clarified the truth, thereby saving people from polytheism.
Ibrahim in Islam
In Islam, Ibrahim is associated with Abraham, a true monotheist who called on people to worship only one God. For the sake of this faith, he endures great suffering, leaves his people and family to go to other lands. Fulfilling all the instructions of God, he proves the strength and truth of his convictions. That is why the Lord calls him "Khalil", that is, "beloved slave." Not a single prophet before Ibrahim (Abraham) was awarded such a high name. Ibrahim the prophet occupies a high place both in Christianity and inIslam. That is why it becomes necessary to study his life in detail, focusing on those aspects that contributed to obtaining such a high name. Although the Qur'an does not contain details of the life of the prophet, it does include certain data that deserve attention.
The story of Prophet Ibrahim
The future prophet was born near the majestic city of Ur. He spent his childhood in a cave, seeing only his mother, who brought him food. Then he left the cave and came to his father, wanting to comprehend the secret of the universe. Before his eyes appeared idols, which were revered by the father and the people, but the future prophet could not understand the idolaters. After a while, Ibrahim, with his father Azar and other family members, moved to Harran, because they professed the same religion as in their hometown.
Since Azar was an idolater, Ibrahim is the first to turn to him, calling for monotheism. The Qur'an describes that knowledge was revealed to him that was not revealed to anyone else, which is why he urged him to follow the "right" path. But Azar rejected this call, because such a position of his son did not coincide with the traditions and norms that had been established for many years. Then the prophet Ibrahim addressed the same to the people. He argued that idols are enemies, except for God, who created man and leads him on the right path. As an example, he cites the stars and the moon, which at that time were not known, to which power and strength were attributed. But even they could not appear and disappear whenever they wanted, but only at a certain time. The same was true for the sun.
The Prophet proved that God is not a force, but a being that created the world and people. And it is not necessary to see him in order to worship him. He claimed to be in charge of delivering the revelation to the people. But the people, just like their father, rejected the call of Ibrahim, they only mocked him. Ibrahim confronts his people and family to deliver a message of faith in one God. For his faith he was rejected and exiled. However, despite this, the prophet became ready for greater trials.
Destruction of idols
When the time came to back up his arguments with deeds, the prophet made an attempt to destroy the idols so that people would turn to the One God. So, when there was a religious holiday and all the people left the city, Ibrahim the prophet did not go with everyone, saying that he was sick. When the city became empty, he entered the temple and saw the idols, which he later smashed to pieces, except for the main one. When they returned, everyone was shocked and, remembering Ibrahim, they called him immediately. The priests asked him if he knew who had abused their idols, to which the prophet replied that they should ask about this the most important idol, which remained untouched. The unconvincing logic of the priests did not allow them to give the prophet a reasonable answer, and in anger and rage they sentenced him to be burned alive. Ibrahim did not shudder in the face of death, his faith and the truth of his convictions only strengthened. However, the Lord saved him, since a different fate was prepared for the prophet: he was to become the father of one of the great prophets. That is why the fire did not harm Ibrahim.
Test of Submission
At the command of the Lord, the prophet Ibrahim goes to Canaan, and when there comes a famine, he and his wife Sarah go to Egypt, where he meets Hajar, takes her as a concubine so that she gives birth to his son (Sarah could not have children). So the prophet's son Ismail is born.
When he was very young, by the will of Allah, Ibrahim sends his family to Hijaz. This was a difficult test, because the son was very long-awaited. One day the prophet dreamed that he had to sacrifice his only son. He pondered this for a long time, trying to understand if it was not the machinations of Satan. Convinced that this was the will of God, he faced a choice - to act like a father or like a believer. He turned to his son, wanting to know what he thought about this, and received an answer according to which he had to do as Allah commands. The Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail prayed for a long time, and the first was ready to do what he saw in a dream, as God turned to him, saying that he justified the vision, proved his faith, and he no longer needs to kill his son.
And a ram was sacrificed. Allah bequeathed to the prophet to eat a ram and treat everyone who needs it with this meat. Through this covenant, Muslims share their food with those whom God has taken care of every year on the day of sacrifice, called Yawm al-Nahr.
Building a temple
When Ibrahim the prophet returned to Palestine, a spirit appeared to him, delighting him with the news that he would have a son, Ishak. Soon Allah orderedthe prophet, together with Ismail, to build a place where they will worship God - the Kaaba, in the desert where he once left his son with his concubine. Here they will have to pray and make a pilgrimage. Thus, the Kaaba is the first house of worship meant for all mankind. To this day, thousands of pilgrims come here to honor the memory of the prophet and pray to God.
Prayers of Ibrahim
Building a temple is the best form of devotion to God. Ibrahim and his son prayed to Allah and asked to show him the rites of worship. He also asked that among the descendants of his sons were prophets who would honor and worship God. The construction of the temple became a guarantee that the worship of the One God would not stop until the end of the ages. The Quran contains many prayers that were put into the mouth of the prophet. In them, he asks God for a son, intercedes for those who have sinned, asks to bless his land and people. Being saved from the fire, he asks Allah for mercy on his father in the future, but is refused. Thanks to this, the Koran preaches the statement about the inevitability of punishment for those who do not believe in the One God.
Pilgrimage
So the Prophet Ibrahim became a prominent figure in Islam. Many heard his call. Every year, Muslims from all over the world began to gather in Mecca for a pilgrimage called the Hajj. He embodies the events of the life of Ibrahim and his family. After the pilgrims circumnavigate the Kaaba, they drink water from the Zam-Zam spring. On the tenth day a sacrifice is madeand throwing pebbles.
Where is Prophet Ibrahim buried?
The tomb of the great prophet is located in the city of Hebron. It is the most revered place and has been the subject of clashes between Muslims and Zionists many times. Believers bow before this prophet, they will never forget his deeds, and will always follow his path. Ibrahim taught monotheism. He was a Hanif, who was called by Allah to revive Hanifism throughout the earth. Hanifs, on the other hand, are pious people who profess correct monotheism and observe the purity of rituals. From the eighth century, the word "hanif" began to designate Muslims, and Islam was called the Hanif religion, or Hanifism.
Finally…
The life of Prophet Ibrahim was full of difficulties and trials. But he went this way, paving the way to monotheism. During the years of his life, he repeatedly asked Allah for proof of his ability to revive people. God then told him to spread the remains of the birds on four mountains, and then call them. When Ibrahim did this, the birds flew to him alive and unharmed. So we see that Allah loved Ibrahim and protected him. He gave him a large offspring, among which were several prophets.
Thus, at one time the prophet Ibrahim fearlessly told people about faith in the One God and hatred of idols, he fought all his life against godlessness and idolatry, rebelling against the infidels, but inviting them to monotheism. One way or another, Ibrahim is one of the greatest prophets, whose life and deeds were aimed atsomething to show the world the truth.
