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{{Short description|Islamic view of Abraham}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}

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AbrahamKhalīlullāh (, "Friend of God")| birth_name = Ur of the Chaldees>Ur al-Chaldees, Bilād ar-RāfidaynBefore Christ>BC| known_for = *Being an ancestor of the Ishmaelites and the Israelites

• Building the Kaaba

Before Christ>BC (aged 175) Hebron, ShaamCave of the Patriarchs#Islam>Ibrahimi Mosque, HebronIshmael in Islam>Isma'il (Ishmael), Isḥaq (Isaac)Terah#Islamic tradition>Tarakh (father)''Tafsir al-Alusi, 7/194,95.Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 2, p. 100.Al-Dur al-Manthur,'' vol. 3, p. 43.NIAZI DATE=2022-10-06 URL=HTTPS://SEEKERSGUIDANCE.ORG/ANSWERS/ISLAMIC-BELIEF/WILL-ALL-BELIEVERS-AND-THEIR-NON-MUSLIM-PARENTS-BE-FORGIVEN/ ARCHIVE-DATE=2023-06-15 WEBSITE=SEEKERS GUIDANCE QUOTE=THE PROPHET IBRAHIM’S ACTUAL FATHER WAS A MUSLIM. HIS NAME IS GIVEN AS TARAKH BY HISTORIANS., Mahalath (mother)| predecessor = SalihLot in Islam>Lut

• Hajar (Hagar),
• Sarah,
• Keturah {edih}

Lot in Islam>Lut (nephew)}}Abraham{{Efn|; {{IPA-ar|ʔɪbraːˈhiːm}}; the name appears in early Quranic manuscripts in two different spellings, either أبرهَم (Abraham) or إبرهيم (Ibrahim)}} was a prophet and messengerENCYCLOPEDIA, Sajjadi, Sadeq, 2015, 2008, Abraham, Negahban, Farzin, Madelung, Wilferd, Daftary, Farhad, Encyclopaedia Islamica, 1, Leiden and Boston, Brill Publishers, 10.1163/1875-9831_isla_COM_0028, 978-90-04-16860-2, 1875-9823, {{qref|87|19|b=y}} of God according to Islam, and an ancestor to the Ishmaelite Arabs and Israelites.NEWS, Siddiqui, Mona, Mona Siddiqui, Ibrahim – the Muslim view of Ibrahim,weblink Religions, BBC, 3 February 2013, 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.{{qref|2|124|b=y}} The Quran extols Abraham as a model, an exemplar, obedient and not an idolater.{{qref|16|120|b=y}} 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".{{rp|18}} 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.ENCYCLOPEDIA, Glassé, Cyril, Kaaba, The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam, HarperSanFrancisco, Suhail Academy, 1991, Abraham, 18–19,weblink 0-0606-3126-0, 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,{{qref|2|128|b=y}} 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.{{Islamic prophets|Prophets in the Quran}}

Quranic account and Islamic tradition

Family

Muslims maintain that Abraham's father was not Azar,Roohul Ma'ani, 7/194,95.Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 2, p. 100.Al-Dur al-Manthur, vol. 3, p. 43.WEB, Niazi, Yama, 2022-10-06, Will All Believers and Their Non-Muslim Parents Be Forgiven?,weblinkweblink 2023-06-15, 2023-06-15, Seekers Guidance, en, The Prophet Ibrahim’s actual father was a Muslim. His name is given as Tarakh by historians., [(), which could be derived from Eusebius' reference to his father Athar in Koine Greek,Geiger 1898 Judaism and Islam: A Prize Essay, p. 100] but TarakhAl-Dur al-Manthur, vol. 3, p. 43.Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 2, p. 100.Roohul Ma'ani, 7/194,95.WEB, Niazi, Yama, 2022-10-06, Will All Believers and Their Non-Muslim Parents Be Forgiven?,weblinkweblink 2023-06-15, 2023-06-15, Seekers Guidance, en, The Prophet Ibrahim’s actual father was a Muslim. His name is given as Tarakh by historians., who is known in the Hebrew Bible as Terah. Abraham had two children, Ishmael and Isaac, who both later became prophets. Abraham's nephew is said to have been the messenger Lut (Lot), who was one of the other people who migrated with Abraham out of their community. Abraham himself is said to have been a descendant of Nuh through his son Shem."Ibrahim". Encyclopedia of Islam, Online version.

Personality and wisdom

{{See also|Ulu-l-‘Azm}}Abraham's personality and character are one of the most in-depth in the whole Quran, and Abraham is specifically mentioned as being a kind and compassionate man.{{qref|11|75|b=y}} Abraham's father is understood by Muslims to have been a wicked, ignorant and idolatrous man who ignored all of his son's advice. The relationship between Abraham and his father, who in the Quran is named Azar, is central to Abraham's story as Muslims understand it to establish a large part of Abraham's personality. The Quran mentions that Abraham's father threatened to stone his son to death if he did not cease preaching to the people.{{qref|19|46|b=y}} Despite this, the Qur'an states that Abraham in his later years prayed to God to forgive the sins of all his descendants and his parents. Muslims have frequently cited Abraham's character as an example of how kind one must be towards people, especially one's own parents. A similar example of Abraham's compassionate nature is demonstrated when Abraham began to pray for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah after hearing of God's plan through the angel Gabriel for them. Although the angel Gabriel told Abraham that God's plan was the final word, and therefore Abraham's prayers would be of no effect, the Quran nonetheless reinforces Abraham's kind nature through this particular event.Lives of the Prophets, L. Azzam, Suhail Academy Co.

Youth

{{See also|Akkadian Empire|Sumer|Sumerian religion}}{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width= }}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.ENCYCLOPEDIA, Jacobsen, Thorkild, Mesopotamian religion, Encyclopædia Britannica,weblink 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.WEB,weblink QTafsir Tafsir Ibn Kathir Mobile, m.qtafsir.com, Despite his opposition to idolatry, his father Azar would still send Ibrahim to sell his idols in the marketplace. Once there, Ibrahim would call out to passersby, "Who will buy my idols? They will not help you and they cannot hurt you! Who will buy my idols?" Then Ibrahim would mock the idols. He would take them to the river, push their faces into the water and command them, "Drink! Drink!" Once again, Ibrahim asked his father, "How can you worship what does not see or hear or do you any good?" Azar replied, "Dare you deny the gods of our people? Get out of my sight!" Ibrahim replied, "May God forgive you. No more will I live with you and your idols." After this, Ibrahim left his father's home for good. 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.{{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=University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology}} 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."WEB,weblink Abraham and the Idols (Middle Eastern, Islamic, Muslim Legends, Stories), aaronshep.com, After several years, Ibrahim became a young man. He still could not believe that his people were worshipping the statues. He laughed whenever he saw them entering the temple, lowering their heads, silently offering the statues the best of their food, crying and asking forgiveness from them. He started feeling angry towards his people, who could not realize that these are only stones that could neither benefit nor harm them.WEB,weblink Ibrahim - Father of Prophets - Prophets of Muslim community - Prophet Ibrahim, Pan India Internet Pvt Ltd., festivalsofindia.in, 17 June 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141210190022weblink">weblink 10 December 2014, dead,

Searching for the truth

One night, Abraham went up to the mountain, leaned against a rock, and looked up to the sky. He saw a shining star and said to himself, "Could this be my Lord?" But when it set he said: "I don't like those that set." The star had disappeared so it could not be God. God is always present. Then he saw the moon rising in splendor and said, "Could this be my Lord?" but the moon also set. At daybreak, he saw the sun rising and said, "Could this be my Lord? This is the biggest and brightest!" But when the sun also set he said, "O my people! I am free from all that you join as partners with God! I have turned my face towards God who created the heavens and the earth and never shall I associate partners with God. Our Lord is the creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in between. He has the power to make the stars rise and set." After this declaration, Abraham then heard God calling him, "O Abraham" Abraham trembled and said, "Here I am O my Lord!" God replied, "Submit to Me!" Abraham fell to the ground, crying. He said: "I submit to the Lord of the universe!" Abraham kept prostrating himself until nightfall. He then got up and went back to his home, in peace and full of conviction that God has guided him to the truth.

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!"WEB, 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}}{{qref|21|69|b=y}}

Confrontation with Nimrod

The Quran discusses a very short conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Abraham.{{qref|2|258|b=y}} 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,WEB,weblink Tafsir Surah 2:258, quranx.com, 8 May 2019, this king has been suggested to be Nimrod.History of the Prophets and Kings, Tabari, Vol. I: Prophets and Patriarchs 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.{{Qtaf|en:ibk|2|258}}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. (See also Ninus.) 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.WEB,weblink The Father of the Prophets, islamicity.com, WEB,weblink Ibn Kathir: Story of Prophet Ibrahim/Abraham (pbuh), islamawareness.net, 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.Book 1: The Prophet Abraham, Harun Yahya, The Unbeliever Advised By Abraham, Online.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."{{qref|11|69|b=y}} 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.Book 1: The Prophet Abraham, Harun Yahya, Angels Who Visited Abraham, Online.

Sacrifice

(File:Timurid Anthology Zhertva.jpg|thumb|Ibrahim's Sacrifice; Timurid Anthology, 1410–1411)Abraham's dream of sacrificing his son was a command by God. The reference verses are in Surah As-Saffat (verse 100–107); "100. My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous." 101. So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. 102. And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." 103. And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, 104. We called to him, "O Abraham, 105. You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. 106. Indeed, this was the clear trial. 107. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, (Zibhin azeem)".{{qref|37|100–111|b=y}}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:{{Qtaf|en:ibk|37|107}}{{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 Muhammad: 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").WEB,weblink Deeper Meaning of Sacrifice in Islam, 8 December 2014, 9 August 2020,weblink dead,

Tabari's account

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.BOOK, Rippin, Andrew, Knappert, Jan, Textual Sources for the Study of Islam, The University of Chicago Press, 15 October 1990, 978-0-2267-2063-0, 63, 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.

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.{{qref|6|75|b=y}}
• Abraham and the miracle of the birds.{{qref|2|260|b=y}}
• Abraham was thrown into a fire, which became "cool" and "peaceful" for him.{{qref|21|68–70|b=y}}

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),The Book of Certainty, M. Lings, S. Academy Publishing 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.Stories of the Prophets, Kisa'i/Kathir, Story of 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.Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, note. 285 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.Quran: Text, Translation, Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, note. 2703

Title

Abraham is given the title Khalilullah () in Islam. 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 Muslim culture and tradition that, in the areas in and around Mecca, Abraham is often referred to solely as The Friend.Mecca: From Before Genesis Until Now, M. Lings. Archetype Books 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){{Bibleverse||Isaiah|41:8}} and {{Bibleverse|2|Chronicles|20:7}} as well as in the New Testament.{{Bibleverse||James|2:23}}

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 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.BOOK, Lings, Martin, Martin Lings, (Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources), Islamic Texts Society, 1983, 978-0-946621-33-0, Just as Medina is referred to as the "City of the Prophet [Muhammad]" 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.BOOK, Michigan Consortium for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, Goss, V. P., Bornstein, C. V., The Meeting of Two Worlds: Cultural Exchange Between East and West During the Period of the Crusades, Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 21, 208, 0918720583,weblink 1986, File:Kaaba mirror edit jj.jpg|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 IshmaelFile:Maqam Ibrahim.JPG|The Maqam (Station) of Abraham which is believed by Muslims to contain his footprints, near the Kaaba in Al-Masjid Al-HaramFile:Temple Mount (Aerial view, 2007) 05.jpg|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

Suhuf

The 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.A-Z of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, B. M. Wheeler, Abraham 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:{{blockquote|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.|{{qref|87|9–19|c=y}}}}Surah an-Najm mentions some more subject matters of the earlier scriptures of Abraham and Musa (Moses):{{blockquote|Or has he not been informed of what is in the Scripture of Moses,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˺!|{{qref|53|36–62|c=y}}}}Yet some scholars{{By whom|date=March 2012}} suggested it to be a reference to the Sefer Yetzirah, as Jewish tradition generally ascribed its authorship to Abraham.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}} Other scholars, however, wrote of a certain Testament of Abraham, which they explained was available at the time of Muhammad.Tafsir and Commentary on 87: 18–19 & 53: 36–37, Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Muhammad AsadThe 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.{{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 People of the Book, it is also narrated by Abu Hurairah in hadith:{{Blockquote|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|{{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

{{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 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:{{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.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.|{{qref|6|83–87|b=y}} See also Islamic view of David, Islamic view of Solomon, Job (prophet) and Islamic view of Joseph}}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,{{qref|22|78|b=y}} and his narrative records him praying for his offspring.{{qref|14|35|b=y}} The Quran further states that Abraham's descendants were given "the Book and Wisdom",{{qref|4|54|b=y}} 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.{{qref|19|58|b=y}} 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.{{qref|3|33|b=y}} 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."{{qref|38|48|b=y}} and one of the men who was given "favour above the nations."{{qref|6|86|b=y}} In addition, Ishmael is described as being "true to what he promised, and he was a messenger (and) a prophet."{{qref|19|54|b=y}} Likewise, the Quran says of Isaac that he was "of the company of the Elect and the Good."{{qref|38|47|b=y}} and was "a prophet,- one of the Righteous."{{qref|37|112|b=y}} and further describes him as "of Power and Vision."{{qref|38|45|b=y}}

Burial place

Muslims 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.BOOK, Emmett, Chad F., Murphy, Alexander B., Johnson, Douglas L., Haarmann, Viola, Sharing Sacred Space in the Holy Land, Cultural encounters with the environment: enduring and evolving geographic themes, Rowman & Littlefield, 271–291,weblink 978-0-7425-0106-5, 2000, BOOK, Gish, Arthur G., Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking, Wipf and Stock Publishers,weblink 978-1-5326-6213-3, 20 December 2018, File:Abraham in the Mosque of Abraham IMG 2289.JPG|Cenotaph over Abraham's grave in his mosque at HebronFile: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

Narrative in the Quran

{{Quran}}

References

There are numerous references to Abraham in the Quran, including, twice, to the Scrolls of Abraham;{{qref|87|18–19|b=y}} and {{qref|53|36–37}} in the latter passage, it is mentioned that Abraham "fulfilled his engagements?-",{{qref|53|37|b=y}} 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,{{qref|6|74|b=y}} to leave idol-worship and come to the worship of God.{{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}} 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.{{qref|52|24–34|b=y}}, {{qref|25|51–60}}, {{qref|11|69–76}} and {{qref|29|31}} 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,{{qref|25|53|b=y}} Jacob{{qref|29|49|b=y}}, {{qref|21|72}}, {{qref|29|27}}, {{qref|6|84}}, {{qref|11|71}} and {{qref|38|45–47}} and Ishmael.{{qref|2|132–133|b=y}} 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{{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}} The Quran consistently refers to Islam as "the Religion of Abraham" (millat Ibrahim){{qref|2|135|b=y}} and Abraham is given a title as Hanif (The Pure, "true in Faith" or "upright man").{{qref|3|67|b=y}} The Quran also mentions Abraham as one whom God took as a friend (Khalil),{{qref|4|125|b=y}} 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 (, "Voice of God").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 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';{{qref|37|97|b=y}} and {{qref|21|68–70}}{{qref|21|51–73|b=y}} his pleading for his father;{{qref|28|47|b=y}} his quarrel with an unrighteous and powerful king{{qref|2|58|b=y}} 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.Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, Ibrahim; Tales of the Prophets, Kisa'i, Ibrahim 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.Diversity Calendar: Eid al-Adha {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019040746weblink |date=19 October 2012 }} University of Kansas Medical Center In some cases, some believe these legends in Islamic text may have influenced later Jewish tradition.J. Eisenberg, EI, Ibrahim

Verses

• Abraham's attributes: {{qref|2|124|pl=y}}, {{qref|11|75–123|pl=y}}, {{qref|16|120|pl=y}}
• Abraham's religion: {{qref|2|130|pl=y}}, {{qref|4|125|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|83–84|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|161|pl=y}}, {{qref|9|114|pl=y}}, {{qref|11|74|pl=y}}, {{qref|12|6|pl=y}}, {{qref|16|120|pl=y}}, {{qref|19|41|pl=y}}, {{qref|19|47|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|51|pl=y}}, {{qref|22|78|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|83–85|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|27|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|84|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|88|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|104|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|109–111|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|113|pl=y}}, {{qref|38|45–47|pl=y}}, {{qref|43|28|pl=y}}, {{qref|53|37|pl=y}}, {{qref|57|26|pl=y}}, {{qref|60|4|pl=y}}
• God tried Abraham: {{qref|2|124|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|102|pl=y}}
• Abraham's preaching: {{qref|2|130–231|pl=y}}, {{qref|2|135–136|pl=y}}, {{qref|2|140|pl=y}}, {{qref|3|67–68|pl=y}}, {{qref|3|84|pl=y}}, {{qref|3|95|pl=y}}, {{qref|4|125|pl=y}}, {{qref|4|163|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|74|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|76–81|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|83|pl=y}}, {{qref|6|161|pl=y}}, {{qref|14|35–37|pl=y}}, {{qref|14|40|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|52|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|54|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|56–57|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|67|pl=y}}, {{qref|22|26|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|69–73|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|75|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|78–80|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|87|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|16–17|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|25|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|83|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|85–87|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|89|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|91|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|92|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|93|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|94–96|pl=y}}, {{qref|43|26–28|pl=y}}, {{qref|60|4|pl=y}}
• Development of the Kaaba: {{qref|2|127|pl=y}}
• Abraham's pilgrimage: {{qref|2|128|pl=y}}, {{qref|22|27|pl=y}}
• Abraham as God's friend: {{qref|4|125|pl=y}}
• Punishment to Abraham's people: {{qref|9|70|pl=y}}
• Moving to Shaam: {{qref|21|71|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|26|pl=y}}
• Abraham, Hagar, and Ismael: {{qref|14|37|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|101|pl=y}}
• Dreaming of resurrecting a dead body: {{qref|2|260|pl=y}}
• Arguing with Nimrod: {{qref|2|258|pl=y}}
• Abraham and his father
  • Abraham preached to his father: {{qref|6|74|pl=y}}, {{qref|19|42–45|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|52|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|70|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|85|pl=y}}, {{qref|43|26|pl=y}}
  • His father's idolatry: {{qref|6|74|pl=y}}, {{qref|26|71|pl=y}}
  • Abraham asked forgiveness for his father: {{qref|14|41|pl=y}}, {{qref|19|47|pl=y}}, {{qref|60|4|pl=y}} {{qref|26|86|pl=y}}
  • Arguing with the people: {{qref|21|62–63|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|65–66|pl=y}}
  • Abraham moved away from the people: {{qref|19|48–49|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|26|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|99|pl=y}}, {{qref|43|26|pl=y}}, {{qref|60|4|pl=y}}
  • Abraham's warnings for the idols: {{qref|21|57–58|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|60|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|93|pl=y}}
  • Thrown into the fire: {{qref|21|68|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|24|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|97|pl=y}}
  • Saved from the fire: {{qref|21|69–70|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|24|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|98|pl=y}}
• Good news about Isaac and Jacob: {{qref|6|84|pl=y}}, {{qref|11|69|pl=y}}, {{qref|11|71–72|pl=y}}, {{qref|14|39|pl=y}}, {{qref|15|53|pl=y}}, {{qref|15|54–55|pl=y}}, {{qref|21|72|pl=y}}, {{qref|29|27|pl=y}}, {{qref|37|112|pl=y}}, {{qref|51|28–30|pl=y}}
• Dreaming of his son's sacrifice: {{qref|37|102–103|pl=y}}

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

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}{{Reflist}}

References

• BOOK, Saad Assel, Mary, 25 Icons of Peace in the Qur'an: Lessons of Harmony, 2010, iUniverse, 9781440169014, 244,weblink
• BOOK, Mehar, Iftikhar Ahmed, Al-Islam: Inception to Conclusion, 2003, AL-ISLAM, 9781410732729, 240,weblink
• BOOK, Islam Kotob, Stories Of The Prophets By Ibn Kathir, Islamic Books,weblink
• BOOK, Lalljee, compiled by Yousuf N., Know your Islam, 1993, Taknike Tarsile Quran, New York, 978-0-940368-02-6, 255,weblink registration, 3rd,

Further reading

General

• ENCYCLOPEDIA,weblink P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, Clifford Edmund Bosworth, Clifford Edmund Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs, IbrāhÄ«m, Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd, Brill Academic Publishers, 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 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128090616weblink |date=28 November 2017 }}
• The Sacrifice Of Abraham: Isaac or Ishmael?

{{Prophets in the Quran}}{{Quranic people}}{{Adam to Muhammad}}{{Authority control}}