Introduction:
If humanity started anew with Noah after the flood, then Abraham was the father of the prophets and messengers. Prophet Ibrahim was truly a prophet of determination. Abraham was humble, gentle, and kind-hearted. But Abraham, like other prophets of determination, suffered greatly for the sake of God. Abraham used his conscience and his heart to reach the truth of this universe. The truth of this universe is that God is the one and only true Lord of the worlds and the Hereafter. No one is worthy of worship except God. Abraham was troubled by the pagan gods he saw. This prompted him to search for his true Lord.
From idol seller into the father of the prophets:
Prophet Ibrahim grew into a family who sold heathen gods to people on the market. However, better than anyone else, Ibrahim knew that these pieces of stone were useless. he used to call people saying: ((“Who buys helpless gods !!”)) On many occasions, Ibrahim proved to himself and to the other people that the idols were helpless stones. Once, Prophet Ibrahim sneaked into the temple where the idols were worshiped. Ibrahim had an iron ax in his hand. While Ibrahim was all alone in the temple, he went on destroying the stone idols so that they could defend themselves. The idol worshipers were shocked. They arrested ibrahim.
The fire protected ibrahim, not burnt him:
The furious idol worshipers decided to burn Prophet Ibrahim alive. They set a huge fire and threw Ibrahim into it. For many days the fire burnt and burnt with Ibrahim inside it. However, Allah addressed the fire saying: God Almighty said
((قُلْنَا يَـٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًۭا وَسَلَـٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ))
After a long time amidst the burning fire, Prophet Ibrahim got out safe and sound. He decided to leave home. Ibrahim left Iraq and headed for Syria. He married sara. They lived together for a long time without any children. from Syria, they traveled to egypt. After a series of adventures, Ibrahim got a gift from the Egyptian king. The king gave Ibrahim a maid. Her name was Hajar.
Between Palestine and Arabia:
On his turn, Prophet Ibrahim married young Hajar. Hajar bore Ibrahim a child. Sara, the aging woman, could not stand jealousy. Sara asked Ibrahim to keep Hajar away from him. Hajar, Ibrahim and their new born baby, Ismail, traveled to makkah. At Makkah, Ibrahim left Hajar and Ismail all alone in a barren piece of land. Hajar and her son suffered from thirst and hunger. while searching for water for herself and her baby, the well of Zamzam suddenly sprang. It was a miracle for Hajar and ismail. Meanwhile, the barren childless Sara had a baby too. His name was Ishaq. Therefore, Ismail was the father of the arabs. Ishaq was the father of bani israel.
The great test and agony:
Ibrahim was the intimate friend of allah. Also, Ismail was a great prophet. However, they both had a hard test to go through. Allah commanded Prophet Ibrahim to slaughter his dear son ismail. Ismail had to obey his father, even though the divine command came in the form of a dream in Ibrahim’s sleep. Eventually both men, Ibrahim and Ismail, obeyed their lord’s command. Therefore, they both passed the test. Consequently, Allah rewarded both the obedient slaves, Ibrahim and ismail. Allah sent down a ram to be slaughtered instead of Ismail who survived the test. Ismail grew up and had children and grandchildren. The great grandson of Ismail was prophet Mohammad.
Islam and echoes of ismail’s story:
Islam is not an innovation introduced by prophet mohammad. The religion of Allah is just a ring in the golden chain of prophets, messengers and their divine messages. they all call to one and the same call. This call states that there is no god but allah; and that Mohammad is his last and final prophet and messenger. Therefore, muslims respect all the previous prophets and messengers. Also, in their pilgrimage to Makkah, they drink from the well of Zamzam. In addition, muslims pray in the direction of al-kaaba which Ibrahim and Ismail built. They also circulate al-kaaba, their holy house of worship. muslims also commemorate the story of Ismail’s redemption by slaughtering sheep and other animals in the al-adha feast.
