Boreal
Shared Prophets
Abraham
3:65
O People of the Book, why do you dispute concerning Abraham, when the Torah and
the Gospel were only received after him. Do you have any sense?
3:66 There, you have disputed concerning what you know; so why do you dispute concerning what you do not know? Allah knows and you do not know.
3:67 Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a hanif (Arabic word which means “one who turned away from paganism”) and a Muslim. And he was not one of the polytheists.
3:68 Surely, the people who are worthiest of Abraham are those who followed him, together with the Prophet (Muhammad) and the believers. Allah is the Guardian of the believers!
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3:95 Say (Muhammad): “Allah has spoken the truth. Follow then the religion of Abraham, the upright; he was not one of the polytheists.”
A Friend of Allah’s and the Father of all Muslims
4:123 It will not be in accordance with your wishes or the People of the Book. Whoever does evil shall be requited for it and will not find, apart from Allah, a friend or supporter
4:124 And whoever does some good deeds, whether male or female, and is a believer – those shall be admitted into Paradise and shall not be wronged a whit.
4:125 And who has a better religion than one who submits himself to Allah, does right and follows the true religion of Abraham the upright one? Allah has taken Abraham for a friend.
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22:77 O believers, kneel down, prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord and do good, that you may perchance prosper.
22:78 And strive for Allah as you ought to strive. He elected you, and did not impose on you any hardship in religion – the faith of your father Abraham. He called you Muslims before and in this (the Qur’an), that the Messenger may bear witness against you and you may be witnesses against mankind. So, perform the prayer, give the alms and hold fast to Allah. He is your Master; and what a Blessed Master and a Blessed Supporter!
Challenger and Buster of Idols
Abraham was a man that God knew well.
21:51 And We gave Abraham his right judgement formerly; for We knew him well.
He started asking questions about the idols that his father and “his people” worshipped earlier on.
21:52 When he said to his father and his people: “What are these statues to which you are devoted?”
21:53 They said: “We found our fathers worshipping them.”
God may have given Abraham his “right judgement” but it did not include tactfulness.
21:54 He said: “Indeed, you and your fathers have been in manifest error.”
21:55 They said: “Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who jest?”
21:56 He said: “No, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them both; and I bear witness to that.
Abraham, having founded the most influential monotheistic religion of all time, was a natural ally of Allah against the polytheists (also referred to in the Koran as idol-worshippers and idolaters). No one in the Koran breaks more idols than Abraham. He may have been a teenager, or even younger, when he busted his first idol.
21:57 “And by Allah, I will show your idols my guile, after you turn your backs.”
After they have turned their backs in a variation of hide-and-seek, or perhaps have even gone home, Abraham proceeded to destroy the idols except for the leader of the statues or statuettes. He had a plan for that one.
21:58 Then he reduced them to pieces except for their chief, so that they might turn to him.
21:59 They said: “He who did this to our gods is certainly one of the wrongdoers.”
Their suspicions naturally fell on the young Abraham as the wrongdoer.
21:60 They said: “We heard a youth called Abraham mentioning them.”
21:61 They said: “Bring him along in full view of the people, so that they may bear witness.”
21:62 They said: “Are you the one who did this to our gods, O Abraham?”
Who? Me! Why don’t you ask your busted statues?
21:63 He said: “No, but their chief did this; so ask them if they can speak.”
21:64 Then, they turned to themselves and said: “Surely, you are the wrongdoers.”
21:65 And so they were utterly confounded and [they said]: “You know that these [idols] do not speak.”
21:66 He (Abraham) said: “Do you, then, worship, besides Allah, what does not profit or harm you a whit?”
21:67 “Fie on you and on what you worship besides Allah. Do you not understand?”
In the Old Testament, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thrown into a fiery furnace, walk out without even a hair singed. In the Koran, Abraham gets more or less the same treatment and he too walks away unscathed. Allah spoke to the fire and apparently that did the trick.
21:68 They said: “Burn him and support your gods, if you are going to do anything.”
21:69 We (Allah) said: “O fire, be coolness and peace upon Abraham.”
After defeating the plotters, God, in this account of the story of Abraham, delivers the Patriarch and his nephew Lot (the Koran does not mention their filial relationship) unto a blessed land, where they become god-fearing leaders of men.
21:70 They wanted to plot against him, but We made them the worst losers.
21:71 And We delivered him and Lot unto the land which We have blessed for all mankind.
21:72 And We granted him Isaac, and Jacob, his son’s sons, as a bounty and each We made to be righteous.
21:73 And We made them leaders, guiding others at Our Behest; and We revealed to them to do good, perform the prayer and give the alms, and they have worshipped Us.
Like Abraham, Lot is given good judgement.
21:74 And Lot, We gave him good judgement and knowledge, and We delivered him from the city which practiced foul deeds (Sodom). They were indeed an evil and sinful people.
21:75 And We admitted him into Our Mercy; for he was one of the righteous.
In Surah 29, The Spider, Abraham’s people again try to burn him for what he preaches.
29:16 And (remember) Abraham, when he said to his people: “Worship Allah and fear Him; that is far better for you, if only you knew.
29:17 “Indeed, you only worship, apart from Allah, mere idols, and you invent falsehood. Surely, those you worship, apart from Allah, have no power to provide for you. So, seek provision from Allah, worship Him and give Him thanks. You shall be returned onto him.
29:18 “And if you denounce [the Prophets], other nations before you have denounced too. It is only incumbent on the Messenger to deliver the message plainly.”
29:19 Have they not seen how Allah originates creation, then brings it back into being? That for Allah is an easy matter.
29:20 Say: “Travel in the land and see how Allah originated the creation; then Allah produces the other generation (that is, Resurrection). Allah truly has power over everything.”
29:21 He punishes whom He pleases and has mercy on whom He pleases, and to Him you will be turned over.
29:22 You cannot thwart Him on earth or in heaven, and you have, apart from Allah, no friend or supporter.
29:23 Those who disbelieved in Allah’s Signs and His Encounter are those who despaired of My (?) Mercy (to despair of Allah’s Mercy is the second greatest sin in Islam). To those is reserved a very painful punishment.
29:24 His own people’s only reply was their saying: “Kill him and burn him”, but Allah delivered him from the fire. Surely, in that are signs for a people who believe.
You and your idols would curse one another on Judgement Day!
29:25 He (Abraham) said: “You only took, apart from Allah, idols, as a bond between you in the present life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will disbelieve in each other and curse each other. Your refuge shall be the Fire and you will have no supporters.”
It was not all in vain; Abraham did make a convert out of Lot.
29:26 Then Lot believed in him and he said: “I will emigrate to my Lord; He is indeed the Almighty, the Wise.”
The next revelation leaves the impression that it was Lot who was granted Isaac and Jacob.
29:27 And We granted him Isaac and Jacob and conferred on his progeny the Prophethood and the Book, and gave him his reward in this life; and in the Hereafter he shall be among the righteous.
In Surah 37, Allah reveals that Abraham was a partisan of Noah.
37:79 “Peace upon Noah among all the nations.”
37:80 Indeed, this is how We reward the beneficent.
37:81 He was truly one of Our believing servants.
37:82 Then, We drowned the others.
37:83 And of his partisans was Abraham.
37:84 When he came to his Lord with a sound heart.
37:85 He said to his father and his own people: “What are you worshipping?
37:86 “Do you desire, falsely, other gods, apart from Allah?
37:87 “What do you think, then, of the Lord of the Worlds?”
Abraham’s idol warfare takes on a new twist. First, he gets the people to flee by pretending to have some infectious disease.
37:88 Then he cast a glance at the stars.
37:89 And said: “I am really sick.”
37:90 Whereupon, they turned away from him in flight.
He proceeded to try feeding their animal (or perhaps human) representations of their gods, coaxing them to talk.
37:91 And he turned towards their gods, saying: “Will you not eat?
37:92 “Why do you not speak?”
Maybe a slap or two would get their attention.
37:93 Then, he proceeded to hit them with his right hand.
This assault caused the idol worshippers to come to the defense of their gods. They again threw Abraham onto (or into) a blazing fire.
37:94 Then, [his people] came towards him in haste.
37:95 He said: “Do you worship what you hew?
37:96 “When Allah created you and what you do?”
37:97 They said: “Build him a pyre”; and so they cast him into the furnace.
37:98 They wished him ill, but we reduced them to the lowest rung.
Abraham had had enough. Walking out of the fire, he asked God to grant him a new progeny that would give rise to the Arab people.
37:99 And he said: “I am going to my Lord; he will guide me.
37:100 “Lord grant me a righteous child.”
37:101 So, We announced to him the good news of a prudent boy.
Isma`il
The so-called prudent boy is Isma`il, born to Hagar—an Egyptian servant of Sarah, Abraham’s barren wife—gifted to her husband so that he might father a child. In the Koran, it is Isma`il, not Isaac, whom Abraham attempts to sacrifice to his God and in Mecca. Isma`il is a willing volunteer.
37:102 Then, when he attained the age of consorting with him, he said: “My son, I have seen in sleep that I am slaughtering you. See what you think.” He said: “My father, do what you are commanded; you will find me, Allah willing, one of the steadfast.”
37:103 Then, when they both submitted and he flung him down upon his brow;
37:104 And We called out to Him “O Abraham,
37:105 “You have believed the vision.” Thus We reward the beneficent.
37:106 This, indeed, is the manifest trial.
37:107 And We ransomed him with a large sacrifice.
37:108 And We left him for later generations:
37:109 “Peace be upon Abraham.”
Islam considers Hagar to be the legitimate wife of Abraham and her son, his first heir. The Koran is clear on the order of birth. As a reward for his willingness to sacrifice his son, God would grant Abraham another son, who would be none other than Isaac.
37:110 Thus, We reward the beneficent.
37:111 He is indeed one of Our believing servants.
37:112 And We announced to him the good news of Isaac as a Prophet, one of the righteous.
The blessing of God on Abraham and Isaac, and Isaac’s righteousness would not be enough to stop some of their progeny from “wronging themselves.”
37:113 And We blessed him and blessed Isaac; and of their progeny some are beneficent and some are wronging themselves manifestly.
Abraham At Mecca
2:124 And when Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commandments which he fulfilled, He said: “I am making you a spiritual exemplar to mankind.” Abraham said: “And what about my posterity?” He replied: “My Covenant does not apply to the evil-doers.”
Of course, the preceding did not apply to all Abraham’s progeny, only “the evil-doers.”
2:125 And [remember] when We made the House (the Ka’ba) a place of residence for mankind and a haven [saying]: “Make of Abraham’s maqam [stand] a place for prayer.” We enjoined Abraham and Isma`il [saying]: “Purify My House for those who circle it, for those who retreat there for meditation, and for those who kneel and prostrate themselves (perform the prayers).”
2:126 And when Abraham said: “My Lord make this a secure city and feed with fruits those of its inhabitants who believe in Allah and the Last Day.” Allah (having accepted Abraham’s prayer) said: “As for those who disbelieve, I shall provide for them for a while (in this life), and then subject them to the scourge of the Fire, and what an abominable fate!”
If the Islamic tradition that Adam set up the original altar at Mecca using the stone he brought from Paradises has any connection with reality, then people were already circling the Ka`ba when Abraham and Isma`il showed up. Where the tradition falls down a bit is if we give “raised the foundations” in Revelation 2:127 its ordinary, everyday meaning.
2:127 And while Abraham and Isma`il raised the foundations of the House, [they prayed]: “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Surely you are the All-Hearing, the Omniscient.”
It is while labouring at laying (or rebuilding) the foundations of the Ka`ba that Abraham asked God to send the Koran, of whose existence in heaven he was obviously aware, to the Arabs via “a Messenger from among themselves,” the Prophet Muhammad.
2:128 “Our Lord, cause us to submit to You, and make of our posterity a nation that submits to You. Show us our sacred rites, and pardon us. You are, indeed, the Pardoner, the Merciful.”
2:129 “Our Lord, send them a Messenger from among themselves who will recite to them Your Revelations, to teach them the Book and the wisdom, and to purify them. You are truly the Mighty, the Wise.”
Abraham is the chosen one, a leader and a righteous person who does what he is told, and this would be his legacy.
2:130 And who would forsake the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself? We have chosen him in this world and in the Hereafter; he shall be one of the righteous.
2:131 When His Lord told him (Abraham): “Submit”, he said: “I have submitted to the Lord of the Worlds.”
2:132 And Abraham bequeathed that to his sons, and so did Jacob saying: “O my sons, Allah has chosen the religion for you; so do not die except as submitting people.”
Abraham wanted God to prove that He could raise the dead. This would not be the last time Allah would be asked to put, so to speak, his money where His mouth is, and every time He would find a way of avoiding actually doing so, as He does here.
2:260 And when Abraham said: “My Lord, show me how You raise the dead”, He replied: “Have you not embraced the faith?” Abraham said: “Yes, but so that my heart be reassured.” Allah then said: “Take four birds, draw them to you, then [cut them to pieces] and place a part thereof on each mountain. If you then call them, they will come rushing to you. And know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.”
Abraham has a chapter of the Koran named after him, Surah 14, Abrâhim. Herein you will find familiar information about his stay at Mecca and his conversations with God.
14:35 And [remember] when Abraham said: “Lord, make this town secure, and keep me and my sons from worshipping the idols.
14:36 “Lord, they have led (the idols) many people astray; therefore he who follows me, shall belong to me, and he who disobeys me, surely You are All-Forgiving, Merciful.
14:37 “Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley which has no tillage, by Your Sacred House , so that, Lord, they may perform the prayer. Make, then, the hearts of some people incline towards them, and provide them with some fruits, that perchance they might give thanks.
14:38 “Our Lord, You know what we conceal and what we reveal, and nothing on earth or in heaven is concealed from Allah.
14:39 “Praise be to Allah, who has given me, in old age, Isma`il and Isaac. Surely my Lord is the Hearer of Prayer.
14:40 “Lord, make me and my posterity keep up the prayers; and, our Lord, accept my supplication.
14:41 “Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers, on the Day when the reckoning shall come to pass.”
Abraham and His Father
19:41 And remember in the Book of Abraham. He was a truthful man, a Prophet.
19:42 He said to his father: “Father, why do you worship that which neither sees nor hears, and can do nothing to help you?
19:43 “To me has come knowledge which has not come to you; so follow me and I will guide you to a straight path.
19:44 “Father, do not worship the Devil; for the Devil has been rebelling against the Compassionate.
19:45 “Father, I fear that a punishment from the Compassionate shall afflict you, and so you will become a friend of the Devil.”
19:46 He (the father) said: “Are you forsaking my gods, O Abraham? If you will not desist, I will certainly stone you. So leave me alone for a while.”
19:47 [Abraham] said: “Peace be upon you. I will seek forgiveness for you from my Lord. He has, indeed, been gracious to me.
19:48 “And I will draw away from you and from those you call upon except Allah, and I will pray to my Lord. Perhaps I may not be unfortunate in praying to my Lord.”
19:49 Then, when He withdrew away from them and what they worshipped besides Allah, We granted him Isaac and Jacob (Jacob is, of course, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham). and each we made a Prophet.
19:50 And We gave them freely of Our Mercy and We accorded them an honourable and a true rebound.
Allah's Safety Argument
6:74 And when Abraham said to his father Azar, “Do you take idols for gods? I see you and your people are in manifest error.”
6:75 Thus we show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, that he might be one of those possessed of certainty.
The stars, the moon, and the sun are not gods; if they were, they would not ever set.
6:76 And when night fell, he saw a star; so he said: “This is my Lord”, but when it set, he said: “I do not like those that set.”
6:77 Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said: “This is my Lord”, but when it set, he said: “If my Lord does not guide me rightly, I will be one of the erring people.”
6:78 Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said: “This is my Lord; this is larger”, but when it set he said: “O, my people, I am innocent of what you associate [with God].
6:79 “I turn my face towards Him Who fashioned the heavens and the earth as an upright man, and I am not one of the polytheist.”
6:80 His people disputed with him. He said: “Do you dispute with me regarding Allah Who has guided me? I do not fear what you associate with Him, unless my Lord wills anything. My Lord embraces everything in His Knowledge; do you not remember [this]?
If Islam was founded today, it would be considered a criminal enterprise. No Western court would recognise that Muslims had a God-given right to do what they once did, that is stealing from those who did not benefit from God’s protection, i.e., safety in Revelation 6:82.
8:68 But for a prior ordinance of Allah, you would have been afflicted on account of what you have taken (an ordinance which made it lawful for Muslims to take spoils and captives) by a terrible punishment.
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6:81 “And how should I fear what you associate [with Him], while you do not fear the fact that you have associated with Allah that for which He has sent down upon you no authority? Which of the two parties, then, is more deserving of safety? [Tell me] if you know.”
6:82 Those who believe and do not mix their faith up with injustice – to these belongs the safety, and they are the well-guided.
6:83 That is Our Argument which We imparted to Abraham against His people. We raise up in degrees whomever We please. Your Lord is indeed Wise, All-Knowing.
Another mention of Jacob as being a son Abraham:
6:84 And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and guided each of them; and Noah We guided before that, and his progeny, [We guided] David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron. Thus We reward the beneficent.
6:85 And Zachariah, John, Jesus and Elias, each was one of the righteous.
6:86 And Isma`il, Elijah, Jonah and Lot; Each We exalted above the whole world.
6:87 [We also exalted some] of their fathers, progeny and brethren. And We chose them and guide them to a straight path.
6:88 That is Allah’s Guidance by which He guides whom He pleases of His servants. Had they associated [other gods with Allah], all they did would have been nullified.
6:89 Those are the ones to whom We gave the Book, wisdom, authority and Prophethood. So if these (the Meccan unbelievers) disbelieve in them, We have entrusted them to a people who do not disbelieve in them.
Abraham Uninterrupted
In this account of the story of Abraham, the patriarch of Arabs and Jews is not thrown into a fire.
26:69 And relate to them the tale of Abraham;
26:70 When he said to his father and his people: “What do you worship?”
26:71 They said: “We worship idols, to which we continue to be devoted.”
26:72 He said: “Do they hear when you call upon them?
26:73 “Or profit or harm you?”
26:74 They said: “No, but we found our fathers doing that.”
26:75 He said: “Have you considered what you have been worshipping,
26:76 “You and your forefathers?
26:77 “They are surely an enemy of mine, except for the Lord of the Worlds;
26:78 “Who created me, and He guides me;
26:79 “And He is the One Who feeds me and gives me drink;
26:80 “And if I am sick, He is the One Who heals me;
26:81 “And He is the One Who causes me to die, then brings me back to life.
26:82 “And He is the One Whom I hope will forgive me my sins on the Day of Judgement.
26:83 “Lord, grant me sound judgement and make me join the righteous;
26:84 “And give me a truthful tongue among the others;
26:85 “And make me one of the heirs of the Garden of Bliss.
26:86 “And forgive my father; for he was one of the wayward.
26:87 “And do not disgrace me on the day they will be raised from the dead,
26:88 “The day when neither wealth nor children will avail one;
26:89 “Except for him who comes to Allah with a pure heart.
26:90 “And Paradise shall be brought closer to the God-fearing.
26:91 “And Hell shall be exhibited to the perverse.”
26:92 And it will be said to them: “Where are those you used to worship;
26:93 “Apart from Allah? Will they support you or support themselves?”
26:94 Then they will be cast down, together with the perverse ones;
26:95 And the hosts of Iblis, all together.
26:96 They will say, while they disputed there with each other:
26:97 “By Allah, we were indeed in manifest error,
26:98 “When we made you (false gods) equal to the Lord of the Worlds.
26:99 “We were only misled by the criminals;
26:100 “So we have no intercessors;
26:101 “Nor, an intimate friend.
26:102 “If only we could have another chance; then we would be among the believers.”
26:103 Surely in that is a sign; but most of them are not believers.
26:104 Your Lord is surely the All-Mighty, the Merciful.