Abraham and his father
Like those around him, Azar (Terekh or Terah in the Bible) was an idolater. According to the Bible, he made idols, and therefore the first call of Abraham, full of common sense and logic, was directly to him.
“Remember in the Scriptures Ibrahim (Abraham). He was a truthful man and a prophet. So he said to his father: “My father! Why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not bring you any deliverance? My father! Knowledge that was not revealed to you was revealed to me. Follow me, and I will lead you on the right path. ”(Quran 19: 41-43)
The father rejected Abraham’s call. It was the answer of a man who was hurt by the teachings of someone much younger. The son’s position was contrary to long-standing traditions and norms.
READ MORE: Story Of Abraham: The Greatest Offering
“He (father) said:“ Are you turning your back on my gods, Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you don’t stop, then I will certainly stone you. Leave me for a long time! ” (Quran 19:46)
Abraham and his people
Abraham constantly urged his father to give up idol worship, and soon he turned to his people with the same simple and clear argument:
“Read to them the story of Ibrahim (Abraham). So he said to his father and his people: “What do you worship?” They said, “We worship idols and constantly surrender to them.” He said, “Do they hear when you call out to them? Do they help you? And do they harm? ” They said, “But we saw that our fathers did that.” He said, “Have you seen what you and your fathers worship? All of them are my enemies, except for the Lord of the worlds, who created me and leads me on a straight path, who feeds me and gives me water. Who heals me when I get sick, Who will kill me and then resurrect me ”(Quran 26: 69-81)
Continuing the call, Abraham gives another example. Christian-Jewish sources mention the same story, however, according to them, Abraham came to realize the true God through the worship of these objects. In the Qur’an, none of the prophets ever worshiped anything other than God, even before the beginning of the revelations.
“When the night grew dark upon him, he beheld a star, and said, ‘This is my Lord!’ But when it set, he said: ‘I love not things that set.’” (Quran 6:76)
Abraham cited the example of a star – a creature that was completely unknown at that time, and therefore seems to be much greater than humanity. The stars were credited with strength and power, but in their extinction in the morning, Abraham saw the inability to appear when they wanted, but only at night.
READ MORE: Story Of Abraham: The Physical Action
Then Abraham gave another example – the moon, an even more powerful creature. Life itself seemed impossible without her.
“When he saw the rising sun, he said:“ Here is my Lord! It is bigger than others. But when the sun set, he said, ‘O my people! Surely I am free from that which you associate with God. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, away from idolatry, and I am not of those who associate others with God.’” (Quran 6:78)
Abraham proved to them that the Lord of the worlds is not at all the forces that their deities represent, but the Being who created them and the whole world around them. You don’t have to see God to worship Him. He is the almighty Lord, who knows no limits, unlike His creatures. Abraham’s call was extremely simple:
“But Ibrahim (Abraham) said to his people:“ Worship Allah and fear Him! It will be better for you if you only knew. You worship idols instead of Allah and you invent lies. Indeed, those whom you worship in place of Allah are incapable of giving you food. Seek food from Allah, worship Him and thank Him. To Him you will be returned. ” If you consider this a lie, then before you whole nations considered it a lie, but the Messenger is entrusted with only a clear transmission of revelation. Do they not see how Allah creates creation the first time and then recreates it. Indeed, it is easy for Allah. ”(Quran 29: 16-19)
He openly condemned their loyalty to the tradition of their ancestors:
“He said,” Truly, you and your fathers have gone astray. “
The path of Abraham was full of pain, opposition, trials, difficulties … His father and people rejected the call. Abraham tried to shout out to deaf people. They only mocked the prophet Abraham.
They said, “Have you come to us with the truth or are you having fun?” (Quran 21:54)
Abraham, a young man with a great future, confronts his family and people in order to convey the message of true monotheism – faith in the One God, and the denial of false deities, be they stars or other heavenly bodies, earthly forces and idols that personify the gods. Because of his faith, Abraham was rejected, punished, and exiled. Despite all the hardships, the prophet Abraham remained unshakable and ready for even greater trials.
The Lord tested Ibrahim (Abraham) with his commands, and he fulfilled them … ”(Quran 2: 124)
