Ibrahim: the friend of Allah

Ibrahim, peace be upon him, known in English as Abraham, is honored by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. In Islam he holds a special place. Two of his sons, Ismail and Ishaq, were prophets, and so were many of his descendants, including the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Quran describes Ibrahim this way: "he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]" (Quran 3:67). In other words, he turned away from everything false and gave himself fully to Allah.

Looking for the truth

Ibrahim grew up among people who worshipped idols, and his own father was one of them. The Quran tells us:

when Abraham said to his father Azar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."

Quran 6:74 (Saheeh International translation)

Then the Quran describes a night under the open sky. Ibrahim saw a star and said, "This is my lord." When it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear." He did the same with the moon, and then with the sun, the greatest of them all. Scholars of tafsir (explanation of the Quran) explain that he was reasoning with his people, who worshipped the stars, to show them step by step that anything that rises and sets, that comes and goes, cannot be God. At the end he declared:

But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah."

Quran 6:78-79 (Saheeh International translation)

Many new Muslims recognize something of their own journey here: looking honestly at the world, asking hard questions, and finally turning to the One who created it all. The Arabic word for this is hanif: someone who turns away from every false god and inclines toward the truth.

The fire that did not burn

Ibrahim asked his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?" (Quran 21:52). When they would not listen, he broke their idols, leaving only the largest one, so that they might come back to it and think (Quran 21:58). In their anger they decided to burn him (Quran 21:68). But Allah protected him:

Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."

Quran 21:69 (Saheeh International translation)

The companion Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported the words Ibrahim said when he was thrown into the fire (Sahih al-Bukhari 4563). Centuries later, the Prophet Muhammad and his companions said the same words when they were told that a great army had gathered against them (Quran 3:173):

You can say these words whenever you feel afraid or overwhelmed. They do not mean you stop trying. They mean you do your part, and then you rest your heart on Allah.

Building the Kaaba

Allah commanded Ibrahim to take Hajar, the mother of Ismail, and their baby son to the empty valley of Makkah, where there was no one and no water. As he turned to leave, she asked him, "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said, "Yes." She replied, "Then He will not neglect us" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364). When their water ran out, she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah looking for help, seven times. Allah then sent an angel, and the water of Zamzam began to flow. The Prophet Muhammad said that her search is the origin of the walk that pilgrims make between those two hills today.

Years later, Ibrahim came back and told Ismail that Allah had commanded him to build a House there. Ismail answered, "Do what your Lord has ordered you to do." Ismail brought the stones and Ibrahim built (Sahih al-Bukhari 3364). The Quran records what they said as they worked:

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.

Quran 2:127 (Saheeh International translation)

They were building the House of Allah, and still they did not assume their work would be accepted. They asked. You can use their words after any good deed, big or small:

The friend of Allah

Allah gave Ibrahim a title of great honor:

And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.

Quran 4:125 (Saheeh International translation)

The Arabic word is khalil, a friend of the closest kind. Ibrahim lived that closeness through a lifetime of trust: in the fire, in the empty valley, and in every command of his Lord.

Next, you will meet Musa, peace be upon him, and learn a short dua for the moments when a task feels too big for you.

Sources

• Quran 14:39 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• The Prophet descended from Ismail: Ibn Hibban, rooted in Sahih Muslim (graded sahih by the Hadith Encyclopedia) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 3:67 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 6:74-79 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 21:52-58 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 21:68-69 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 4563 (Ibrahim's words in the fire) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 3:173 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3364 (Hajar, Zamzam, and building the Kaaba) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 2:127 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)

• Quran 4:125 (Saheeh International translation) (opens in a new tab)