Prophet Ibrahim (AS)

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) is one of the devoted Prophets of Allah. He is a man of devotion, profound intellect. His unparalleled sacrifices established the foundation of monotheism. He is the Abul Anbiya (Father of Prophets), as from his lineage came Ismail (AS) and Ishaq (AS), leading to the major chains of prophethood, culminating in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Who Was Abraham (Ibrahim AS)

Hazrat Ibrahim AS (Abraham) is a prophet and messenger of Allah.  He is known as Khalilullah (friend of Allah). Ibrahim (AS) is the ancestor of the Ishmaelite Arabs and Israelites.

Prophet Ibrahim Alaihis salam is revered as a central, founding figure of monotheism in the world's major Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

The Quran recounts his struggle against his people's idol worship, his miraculous survival from a fire, and his willingness to sacrifice his son at Allah's command, which established key Islamic rituals like the Hajj and the practice of sacrifice.  

Prophet Abraham Family Tree

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is the patriarch of the monotheistic faiths. His family tree is the connecting link between the major prophets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is the patriarch of the monotheistic faiths. His family tree is the connecting link between the major prophets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Key Branches of the Family Tree

Father: Azar

Wives: Hajar (Hagar) and Sarah.

Sons: Ismail (AS), Ishaq (AS)

The Branch of Ismail (Ishmael)

• Mother: Hajar.
• Lineage: Ismail (AS) is the forefather of the Arabs.
• Key Descendant: Many generations later, this line leads to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Branch of Ishaq (Isaac)

• Mother: Sarah.
• Lineage: Ishaq (AS) is the forefather of the Banu Israel (Children of Israel).
• Son: Hazrat Yaqub (Jacob), also known as Israel.
• Grandson: Hazrat Yusuf (Joseph).
• Key Descendants: From Hazrat Yaqub's twelve sons (the Tribes of Israel) came many prophets, including Hazrat Musa (Moses), Hazrat Dawud (David), Hazrat Sulaiman (Solomon), and eventually Hazrat Isa (Jesus).

When Was Ibrahim (AS) Born

The exact year of Prophet Ibrahim's birth is not specified in the Quran or Hadith. However, traditional Islamic sources and historians place his birth in the early 2nd millennium BCE, generally around 1996 BCE or the 20th century BCE.

• Time period: Estimated to be in the early to mid-2nd millennium BCE.
• Birthplace: Ur Kasdim, in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).

Birth and Early Life of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS)

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was born in ancient Babylon (Iraq) during the reign of the tyrant King Namrud. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) opened his eyes to a society steeped in the worship of stone idols and celestial bodies. The society he lived in carved statues, worshipped stars, and believed kings had divine authority. 

His own father, Azar, was an idol-maker who crafted figures worshipped by the entire nation.

Even as a boy, Ibrahim (AS) recognised the absurdity of worshipping objects made from stone and wood. His childhood environment was filled with shirk, but his heart never accepted it. This internal rejection laid the foundation for his intellectual journey to discover the true Creator.

The Intellectual Journey Toward Tawheed

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) did not accept inherited beliefs blindly. He sought truth through observation and reflection. As described in the Quran (Surah Al-An'am), he observed a star, the moon, and the sun.

The Quran narrates how he examined celestial bodies. He saw a star and momentarily said, “This is my Lord.” But when it was set, he said:

“I do not love things that disappear.” (6:76)
Then he observed the moon:
“This is my Lord.” When it vanished, he rejected it again (6:77).
Finally, he saw the sun and said the same. When it set, he declared:

إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

“I have turned my face towards the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth—being upright—and I am not one of the polytheists.” (Qur’an 6:79)

He proved that anything that rises, sets, changes, or disappears cannot be the creator.

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Calling His Father to Islam

Hazrat Ibraheem’s (AS) father's name was Azar. His father was a sculptor of idols. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) deeply loved his father, despite his involvement in idolatry. 

His first mission began at home. He approached his father with gentleness, wisdom, and respect. He said:

لِأَبِيهِ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًۭٔا

“O dear father! Why do you worship what can neither hear nor see, nor benefit you at all?” (Qur’an 19:42)

His father’s response was brutal, threatening to stone Ibrahim (AS) if he did not cease. Hazrat Ibrahim responded with a promise to pray for his forgiveness, demonstrating the etiquette of Dawah even in the face of aggression.

Despite this cruelty, Ibrahim (AS) maintained dignity and compassion. The Quran mentions;

“Peace be upon you. I will ask my Lord to forgive you.” (19:47)

Confronting His People

After addressing his father, Ibrahim (AS) turned to the masses. His society held festivals where they left their idols in the temple to celebrate outdoors. Ibrahim (AS) openly questioned their practices:

“Do you worship what you carve? Allah created you and what you make.”
(37:95–96)

His arguments were so clear that many were struck with confusion, though their arrogance prevented them from accepting the truth.

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The Breaking of the Idols

When the people of Babylon left for their annual festival, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) chose to stay behind, pretending to be ill. Once the city emptied, he walked toward the grand temple where dozens of idols stood, decorated and worshipped. 

With unwavering conviction, he confronted these statues that his people treated as gods. He struck them with an axe, destroying each idol one by one, leaving only the largest untouched. This deliberate act was a profound message to his people that if these idols were truly divine, they should have protected themselves.

When the people returned and saw their gods shattered into pieces, they cried out in shock and anger. The Quran mentions;

قَالُوا۟ مَن فَعَلَ هَـٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“They protested, “Who dared do this to our gods? It must be an evildoer!”(21:59). 

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), brought before a furious crowd, responded with wisdom and sarcasm that exposed their contradictions. Pointing toward the largest idol, he said, “Ask the big one if it can speak”. 

For a moment, truth penetrated their hearts as they admitted, “You already know they do not speak.” This brief realisation could have led them to guidance, but arrogance replaced reflection. Instead of acknowledging the meaning behind his message, they decided to punish him severely.

The Trial by Fire

Enraged by Ibrahim’s (AS) challenge to their centuries-old religious system, the leaders called for the harshest punishment. They declared that Ibrahim (AS) should be burned alive as an example to anyone who dared to reject their idols. 

قَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ لَهُۥ بُنْيَـٰنًۭا فَأَلْقُوهُ فِى ٱلْجَحِيمِ

“They said to one another, 'Build him a furnace and cast him into the blazing fire.” (Quran 37:97)

They used a catapult to cast Ibrahim (AS) into the fire. As he was hurled toward the fire, Ibrahim (AS) placed all his trust in Allah, uttering حَسْبِيَ اللّٰهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيل “Allah is enough for me, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”

At that moment, the fire instantly lost its heat. Ibrahim (AS) landed gently, unharmed and at peace. His ropes burned away, yet the fire could not touch even his skin or clothes. He walked out of the flames glorifying Allah before the eyes of thousands. 

This miracle shook the people and left them speechless. They were unsure how to reconcile what they had witnessed with their false beliefs.

The Quran provides comprehensive stories of the Prophets. You can learn Quran online with professional tutors. 

The Great Debate with Namrud

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) confronted Namrud, the powerful Babylonian king who claimed he was a god. When Ibrahim’s message of monotheism spread, Namrud summoned him, expecting to silence a young man challenging the beliefs of the empire. Instead, he faced a calm, fearless prophet who spoke with divine clarity.

Hazrat Ibrahim’s First Argument

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) began by stating, “My Lord gives life and causes death.” (2:258). This simple argument directly challenged Namrud’s false divinity by emphasising that only Allah controls creation and the end of life.

Namrud’s False Claim of Power

In an attempt to defend his claim, Namrud brought two prisoners, freeing one and killing the other, pretending this demonstrated control over life and death. But this deception only exposed his inability to understand the true meaning of divine power.

The Sun’s Rising and Setting

Ibrahim (AS) then delivered a final, irrefutable argument: “Allah brings the sun from the East, so bring it from the West.” (2:258). Faced with a challenge that no human could meet, Namrud was left speechless and defeated, his false claims exposed before everyone.

The Migration Of Ibrahim (AS)

Realising his people would not believe, Ibrahim (AS) gathered his family, including his wife Sarah and nephew Lut and migrated "for the sake of his Lord."

They travelled to Harran, then Palestine (Canaan), and eventually to Egypt. 

In Egypt, the beauty and piety of Sarah were tested by a tyrant king, but Allah protected her. Awed by her status, the King gifted her a noble servant named Hajar.

The Birth of Ismail (AS)

Hazrat Sarah was barren and aged, with no offspring. She selflessly suggested that Ibrahim (AS) marry Hajar to produce an heir. From this union, Ibrahim (AS) was blessed with his first son, Ismail (AS).

The Valley of No Vegetation

By divine command, Ibrahim took Hajar and the infant Ismail to the barren valley of Makkah. He was ordered to leave them there with a bag of dates and a waterskin. As he walked away, Hajar followed him, asking, "Has Allah commanded you to do this?" When he nodded, she declared, "Then He will not neglect us."

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) walked until he was out of sight, turned back, and made the famous prayer:

"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Your Sacred House..." (Surah Ibrahim:37)

The Miracle of Zamzam

When the water ran out, and Ismail cried in thirst, Hajar ran desperately between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times. Allah sent Jibreel (AS), who struck the earth, and the spring of Zamzam gushed forth from the heels of Hazrat Ismail (AS). This water attracted the tribe of Jurhum, leading to the settlement of Makkah.

The Test of The Sacrifice of Ismail (AS)

Years later, Ibrahim (AS) returned to Makkah. He had a recurring dream that he was sacrificing his son, Hazrat Ismail (AS). Knowing that the dreams of the Prophets are revelations, he spoke to his son.

Hazrat Ismail’s response was the peak of obedience and faith: 

قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ

“He replied, “O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.” (Quran 37:102)

As Hazrat Ibrahim laid his son down and prepared the knife, he had passed the test of the heart. 

He had proven that his love for Allah superseded his love for his son. Allah called out to him, accepted his submission, and replaced Hazrat Ismail with a ram from Paradise. 

In the memorandum of this great sacrifice, Muslims carry out the act of sacrifice in the month of Zilhajj. 

Building the Kaaba

Allah commanded Hazrat Ibrahim and Ismail (AS) to build His House. Together, they laid the foundations of the Kaaba. Ibrahim (AS) stood on a stone (the Maqam Ibrahim) which miraculously softened to hold his footprint as he built higher.

As they worked, they recited the beautiful dua:

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

“Our Lord! Accept this from us. You are indeed the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Quran 2:127)

After completion, Ibrahim (AS) was commanded to proclaim the Hajj (Pilgrimage) to mankind.

The Good News of Ishaq (AS)

Back in Palestine, Ibrahim (AS) received three guests (angels in human form). He immediately roasted a calf for them. When they did not eat, he became fearful. They revealed they were angels sent with two messages:

• The destruction of the sinful people of Lut (AS).
• The glad tidings that Sarah would give birth to a son, Ishaq (AS), and from him would come Hazrat Yaqub (Jacob).

This marked the beginning of the two great lineages of Prophethood, the Ismaili line (Arabs) and the Ishaqi line (Israelites).

The Legacy of Ibrahim (AS)

Ibrahim (AS) passed away after a life defined by struggle, migration, and total submission. He is not just a figure of the past; his legacy is alive today:

The Hajj: Every ritual (Sa'i, Zamzam, Stoning the Jamarat, Sacrifice) is a reenactment of the lives of Ibrahim and his family.

The Prayer: Muslims pray for blessings upon him in every Salah (Durood Ibrahim)

Prophet Abraham Grave

According to Islamic traditions, the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) is buried in Hebron (Al-Khalil), Palestine, along with his son Hazrat Ishaq (AS), grandson Hazrat Yaqoob (AS), and his son's son, Hazrat Yusuf (AS). The graves of these prophets are believed to be located under Masjid-e-Khaleel, also known as Masjid-e-Ibrahim, which is built over the Cave of the Patriarchs. 

Lessons from the Life of Ibrahim (AS)

The life of Ibrahim Alaihis salam offers lessons of faith, the importance of seeking truth through knowledge and reflection, and a high degree of obedience and submission to Allah

Unwavering Monotheism

Ibrahim's entire life was dedicated to establishing Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah). He challenged falsehood fearlessly, even when it meant confronting his own father and community

Complete Submission

From being thrown into fire to being commanded to sacrifice his son, Ibrahim demonstrated perfect submission to Allah's will. He never questioned, hesitated, or complained.

Trust in Allah (Tawakkul)

Whether walking into fire or leaving his wife and infant son in a barren desert, Ibrahim's trust in Allah was absolute. He knew that Allah is the best of planners and protectors.

The Importance of Family

Despite the trials, Ibrahim maintained strong family bonds. He prayed for his offspring, built the Ka'bah with his son, and his supplication led to the coming of the final Prophet from his lineage.

Excellence in Worship

Ibrahim established the rites of Hajj and the tradition of sacrifice. His legacy in worship continues through billions of Muslims who follow his example.

Patience and Perseverance

Ibrahim faced rejection from his father, persecution from his people, childlessness for many years, and the command to sacrifice his son. Through it all, he remained patient and steadfast.

10 Interesting Facts About Abraham in the Bible

Along with the holy Quran, the Bible also contains the story of Ibrahim (AS). Here are 10 interesting facts about Abraham in the Bible: 

1. Abraham’s Original Name Was Abram
Abraham was first called Abram, meaning “exalted father.” God later renamed him Abraham, “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5), symbolising His promise of a great lineage.

2. God Called Him to Leave His Homeland
God commanded Abraham to leave his home in Ur and travel to an unknown land (Genesis 12:1). At 75, Abraham obeyed with remarkable faith.

3. Abraham Became Very Wealthy
Despite humble origins, Abraham gained great wealth in livestock, silver, and gold (Genesis 13:2) while remaining steadfast in trust and obedience to God.

4. Abraham and Sarah Waited Long for a Child
God promised Abraham a son, but he and Sarah waited many years. Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 (Genesis 21:2).

5. Abraham Was Tested with the Sacrifice of Isaac
God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). Abraham obeyed, and God stopped him at the final moment, proving his devotion.

6. Abraham in the New Testament
Abraham is praised in the New Testament as a model of faith, especially in Hebrews 11:8–12, which highlights his obedience and trust in God’s promises.

7. The Covenant Sealed with Circumcision
God established a covenant with Abraham, marked by the command of circumcision for him and his descendants (Genesis 17:10–14).

8. Abraham Pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah
Abraham compassionately interceded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, negotiating with God to spare the cities if righteous individuals were found (Genesis 18:23–33).

9. Abraham’s Son Ishmael
Before Isaac’s birth, Abraham had a son, Ishmael, through Hagar (Genesis 16). God promised blessings for Ishmael, who became the ancestor of many nations and is significant in Islamic tradition.

10. Abraham Lived 175 Years
Abraham died at 175 years old (Genesis 25:7), having witnessed the beginnings of God’s promises fulfilled through his family.

Conclusion 

Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) story is a test of faith. His life is instilled with struggle against idol worship, his rescue from a fire, and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismael, to obey Allah. He has a strong devotion to Allah, leading people to the oneness of Allah, and his actions are central to the Hajj pilgrimage and its traditions.