Dear Young Muslims,

Today’s story-lesson is a long one so be patient, relax and be sure to read it all. You will be so happy that you did!

Today we are talking about the story of Ibrahim. Do we all know who Ibrahim is? He is one of the most important prophets that Allah told us about. When we do Salah everyday.... we say his name... right? but do we know his story... I hope we do. Let's learn together...

Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)

There was a little boy called Ibrahim who didn’t think that this was right. Ibrahim’s father was not just any other man who prayed to idols. But he was totally against Allah. He used to make idols with his own hands. Ever since he was young, Ibrahim knew that there must be a God and that God can’t be stones or sun or any such thing.

During his early childhood Ibrahim realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he asked him about what is he making. His father replied that he made statues of gods. Ibrahim was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child he played with such statues sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of donkeys and mules.

One day his father saw him riding a statue and he became angry. He ordered his son not to play with it again. Ibrahim asked: "What is this statue, father? It has big ears, bigger than ours."

His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! These big ears show his deep knowledge." This made Ibrahim laugh , he was only seven years old at that time.

Years passed and Ibrahim grew up. Since his childhood his heart had been full of hatred for these idols. He could not understand how anyone could make a statue and then worship what he had made. He noticed that these idols did not eat, drink or talk and they could not even turn themselves right side up if someone turned them upside down. How, then could people believe that these statues are Gods?

In the middle of the city, there was a big temple, full of idols. Ibrahim, who used to go to the temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised all that wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behaved when they entered the temple; they bowed and started to cry, begging and imploring their gods for help as if the idols could hear or understand these requests!

At first, such a sight seemed funny to Ibrahim, but later he began to feel angry . What added to the problem was that his father wanted him to be a priest when he was grown, but Ibrahim never stopped displaying his hatred and disdain of them.

One night Ibrahim left his house to go to a mountain. He walked alone in the dark until he chose a cave in the mountain where he sat resting his back against its wall. He looked at the sky. He had hardly seen it when he remembered that he was looking at planets and stars, which were worshipped by some people on earth. His young heart was filled with tremendous pain . He considered what was beyond the moon, the stars and the planets (i.e. Allah) and was astonished that these celestial bodies were worshipped by men when they had been created to worship and obey their Creator, appearing and disappearing at His command. Ibrahim went and talked to his people and told them that these planets are not Gods but they are creatures and things that Allah created. These planets and the sun come and go…they don’t see everything…but nothing can be hidden from Allah. He knows everything and sees everything.

But the people didn’t believe him and they started threatening to kill Ibrahim if he keeps on saying these things. Ibrahim also talked to those who prayed and worshipped the idols and told them that these idols are also not God. Ibrahim did his best to teach his people that there is only one God and that is Allah.

Ibrahim also tried to talk to his father, but he didn’t want to make him so angry so he said to him that he loved him and hoped to help him. He asked him why he worshipped lifeless idols that can’t hear, see or do anything. But his father was so angry , and Ibrahim said to him…Allah has guided me to the truth ….I have seen the truth and the straight path….I fear my dear father that if you keep on worshipping these idols you will end up with a great punishment from Allah . But his father didn’t listen to him.

Ibrahim continued to teach his people about Islam and about Allah….He talked to them about the beauty of Allah’s creation and his powers….but with no use…they won’t listen to him.

Finally Ibrahim wanted to do something that will convince the people of what he was saying. He knew that they are going to have a great celebration , so he waited until the city was empty and everyone was at the celebration and he went into the temple of the gods, and took with him a big sharp axe.

When he got into the temple, Ibrahim looked at the stone and wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. He approached one of the statues and asked: "The food in front of you is getting cold. Why don't you eat?" the statue kept silent and rigid. Ibrahim asked all the other statues around him: "Will you not eat of the offering before you?" (Ch 37:91)

He was mocking them for he knew they would not eat. He once again asked them: "What is the matter with you that you do not speak?" (Ch 37:92)

He then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one and he put the axe hanging in the idol’s neck.

When the people returned, they were shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They began to guess who had done that to their idols and Ibrahim's name came to their minds. They were so angry and they arrested Ibrahim.

Ibrahim did not resist. this was precisely what he had been aiming for, so that he could show them up in public for their foolish beliefs.

At the trial they asked him if he was responsible for breaking the idols. Smiling , he told them to ask the biggest idol which was not broken. Ibrahim said maybe it’s the idol who did it since he has the axe. The people replied:

“Ibrahim you know well that these idols don’t speak or move”. Now Ibrahim said to them: “Then how could you believe these are god?”

They were so angry and they decided that they will burn Ibrahim in the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods.

They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and burned it. Ibrahim’s hands and feet were tied and he was going to be thrown in the fire.

Then Allah ordered the Angel Jibreal to go near Ibrahim’s head and asked him: "O Ibrahim do you wish for anything?" Ibrahim replied: "Nothing from you."

Then Ibrahim was thrown into the fire. But it seemed as if he was thrown in a cold garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah the Almighty had issued His command: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham." (Ch 21:69 Quran)

The fire submitted to the will of Allah, becoming cool and safe for Ibrahim. It only burned his bonds, and he sat in the midst of the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He glorified and praised Allah the Almighty.

When the fire finally went out, Ibrahim walked out of the fire unburned and unharmed. The people were very surprised.

After his event many of the people followed Ibrahim and became Muslim and believed in Allah and worshipped Him.

SubhanaAllah... See how when Ibrahim believed in Allah.... Allah helped him. Ibrahim knew that he shouldn't be afraid of anyone except Allah. SubhanaAllah. We all should be like that. If someone says i'll kill you if you believe in Allah... say go ahead... try... I know that Allah will help me I don't care what you say or do! This is how we should be. .

After the incident with Ibrahim and the fire, the King, his name was Namrud, was very angry. The king used to be thought of as a god too. People would follow the king’s order because they thought he is god too. So the king was afraid that if people follow Ibrahim they will no longer think of him as a god. He told his soldiers to bring Ibrahim to him. When Ibrahim came, Namrud started saying to him things so that he will not worship Allah. When Namrud asked Ibrahim: “Who is your God?”, Ibrahim said: “My Lord is Allah and He is the one who created all of us and He is the one who decides when we die or live." So the king said: “I can say when you die or live too”. He meant that if he wants he can tell someone to kill Ibrahim…. So then Ibrahim said to him: “Well….Allah brings the sun from the east everyday…. Then can you bring it from the west if you wanted?” With this, Namrud was defeated.

Ibrahim continued to tell people to believe in Allah and only one woman and one man believed in him. This woman’s name was Sara and the man’s name was Lut (Remember this name ok… soon we will have a whole lesson about Lut ok my young muslims…)

Sara was the only woman who believed in Ibrahim and she became his wife. When Ibrahim knew that no one else will believe in him, he decided to take his wife and take Lut and leave the city and they went to so many places including Palestine and Egypt, and they kept telling people to believe in Allah.

While Ibrahim and Sara were traveling, they passed by a city which had an evil king. The King heard that Ibrahim has a beautiful lady with him. So he asked Ibrahim… who is this lady? Ibrahim was worried about Sara so he said… she is my sister. Then the king asked to see Sara… When Sara when to see the king, he tried to hold her but his hand got stiff and he couldn’t move it. So he told Sara… ask Allah to cure me and I will not harm you. He tried to hold her again but the same happened. Then he called the guard and told him: "Take her, she is a devil not a human." And the King gave Sara a gift. He gave her the maid called Hajar who was an Egyptian servant.

Years have passed, while Ibrahim and Sara are still teaching people about Islam and telling them to pray to Allah. However, Sara was not able to have any kids. So... She decided that maybe if Ibrahim marries Hajar, her servant, then maybe they will have kids. Indeed, Sara was right. Hajar gave birth to a beautiful son.. they named him Isma'il.

One day, Ibrahim woke up and asked his wife Hajar to get her son and prepare for a long journey. Isma'il was still a child then. They walked and walked until they reached a place near Makka. Makka was not built yet.... the place was empty with no people, food or water around. There, in that place that has no life in it, Ibrahim left Hajar and Isma'il and went back. Hajar was so scared and worried, she went after him and asked him: "Where are you going and leaving us behind?" Ibrahim did not answer. Hajar then said: "Did Allah tell you to leave us here?" Ibrahim said: "Yes." She said: "Then we will be fine. Allah will never forget about us."

But Ibrahim was very sad to leave his wife and son... so He made du'aa that Allah will help them and send people to help them. Then he returned back.

Isma'il and Hajar lived for few days with the water and food that they brought with them.. but soon, that food and water was over. They were soo thirsty and Hajar did not know what to do. Hajar began running between the two mountains Al-Safa and Al-Marwa looking for water for her son...looking maybe she will see anyone who can help them... but she saw no one and found nothing. She kept on going back and forth, back and forth, seven times! Finally Hajar heard a voice and started to call out: "Please help whoever you are!" Then she saw an angel where the water of ZamZam is.... digging the floor until water came out of the floor. Hajar collected the water and made a basin around it to save the water.

Then, after Hajar and her son drank from the water the angel said to her: "Don't be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people."

Hajar lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum passed by her and her child as they were traveling. They landed in the lower part of Mekka where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. they said: "this bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley." They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to inform them of the water. So they all came towards the water. Hajar was sitting near the water.

They asked her: "Do you allow us to stay with you?" She replied: "Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water." They agreed to that. Hajar was pleased with the whole situation, as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people, so they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there.