17 Lessons from Life of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH)
1. 📌Rational approach to nations traditions: Prophet Ibrahim was born in a society who used to worship different Gods. His father Azar was the chief priest of his country. When Ibrahim AS saw these man made worships, he started questioning the reasons behind worshipping gods created by man; who cannot solve their needs, then how to expect them to solve the problems of manking who used to worship them.
إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ
مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِي عَنكَ شَيْئًا
"Father! Why do you worship that which neither sees nor hears, and which can be of no avail to you? (19:42)
2. 📌Search for Truth: When Ibrahim AS didn’t get the proper answer from his father, he started his search for the truth by pondering on the nature. Questioning whether heavenly bodies can have divine powers; but when he felt that all of them have temporary powers. Prophet Ibrahim declared that there is none to be worshipped except the creator of all universes.
A rightful person in his quest for truth should ask this
question “who should be worshipped? One who created all the universe or those
who are created by someone?
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ
كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّي ۖ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِفَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ
لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ فَلَمَّا
رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّي هَـٰذَا أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّا
أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ﴿٧٨﴾ إِنِّي
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ
الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٧٩﴾
when the night outspread over him, he beheld a star, and said: 'This is
my Lord.' But when it went down, he said: 'I do not love the things that go
down.' (76) Then, when he beheld the moon rising, he said: 'This is my Lord!'
But when it went down, he said: 'Were that my Lord did not guide me, I surely
would have become among the people who have gone astray.' (77) Then when he
beheld the sun rising, he said: 'This is my Lord. This is the greatest of all.'
Then, when it went down, he said: 'O my people! Most certainly I am quit of
those whom you associate with Allah in His divinity. (78) Behold, I have turned
my face in exclusive devotion to the One Who originated the heavens and the
earth, and I am certainly not one of those who associate others with Allah in
His divinity.' (6:79)
3. 📌 Right manners while admonishing the elders: Prophet Ibrahim after receiving the divine revelation approach his father first in a very polite way, telling him that instead of following the traditions and cultural beliefs of the nation, lets follow the divine knowledge and guidance which has been revealed to him by the creator. Following the path of the creator will lead to eternal success and rejecting the same will cause eternal failure.
يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي قَدْ جَاءَنِي مِنَ
الْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَاتَّبِعْنِي أَهْدِكَ صِرَاطًا سَوِيًّا﴿٤٣﴾ يَا
أَبَتِ لَا تَعْبُدِ الشَّيْطَانَ ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَـٰنِ عَصِيًّا﴿٤٤﴾ يَا
أَبَتِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ فَتَكُونَ
لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيًّا ﴿٤٥﴾
Father, a knowledge that has not reached you has come to me. So follow
me that I may guide you to a Straight Way. (43) Father, do not serve Satan, for
Satan has indeed been a persistent rebel against the Most Compassionate Lord.
(44) Father, I fear that a punishment from the Most Compassionate Lord might
strike you and you may end up as one of Satan's companions?" (19:45)
4. 📌Reaction to fathers’ ill treatment: Ibrahim’s father instead of listening to the advise of his learned son, responded harshly and threatened to kill him; in response to ill treatment from his father, prophet Ibrahim PBUH soberly replied seeking his forgiveness before Allah. One is therefore reminded that whatever the situation we should keep cool and continue praying for the people whom we are addressing so that their hearts are opened to accepting guidance.
قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنْ آلِهَتِي يَا
إِبْرَاهِيمُ ۖ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ لَأَرْجُمَنَّكَ ۖ وَاهْجُرْنِي
مَلِيًّا ﴿٤٦﴾ قَالَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكَ ۖ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ
لَكَ رَبِّي ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِي حَفِيًّا ﴿٤٧﴾
The father said: "Abraham, have you turned away from my gods? If
you do not give this up, I shall stone you to death. Now begone from me
forever." (46) Abraham answered: "Peace be upon you. I shall seek
pardon for you from my Lord. My Lord has always been kind to Me. (19:47)
5. 📌Efforts for countrymen: Ibrahim PBUH noted that inspite of all his efforts to guide people towards their salvation, they didn’t heed his advice. He dismantled their Idols except the big one and put the hammer in the neck of the biggest idol. When they questioned him about who has done this to their idols, He told them to ask their idol which stunned the audience; but instead of them repenting they decided to burn Ibrahim PBUH to support their deities. Quran narrates the incidence:
قَالُوا مَن فَعَلَ هَـٰذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا
إِنَّهُ لَمِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٥٩﴾ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا فَتًى يَذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهُ
إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﴿٦٠﴾ قَالُوا فَأْتُوا بِهِ عَلَىٰ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَشْهَدُونَ ﴿٦١﴾ قَالُوا أَأَنتَ فَعَلْتَ هَـٰذَا بِآلِهَتِنَا يَا
إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﴿٦٢﴾قَالَ بَلْ فَعَلَهُ كَبِيرُهُمْ هَـٰذَا فَاسْأَلُوهُمْ إِن كَانُوا
يَنطِقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾فَرَجَعُوا إِلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّكُمْ أَنتُمُ
الظَّالِمُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ ثُمَّ نُكِسُوا عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمْ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا
هَـٰؤُلَاءِ يَنطِقُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمْ
شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ ﴿٦٦﴾ أُفٍّ لَّكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ ۖ أَفَلَا
تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾ قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانصُرُوا آلِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ ﴿٦٨﴾
(On Abraham's arrival) they said: "Abraham, are you he who has done this to our gods?" (62) He answered: "Rather it was this supreme one who has done it. So ask them, if they can speak." (63) Thereupon they turned to their (inner) selves and said (to themselves): "Surely it is you who are the wrong-doers." (64) Then their minds were turned upside down, and they said: "You know well that they do not speak." (65) Abraham said: "Do you, then, worship beside Allah a thing that can neither benefit you nor hurt you? (66) Fie upon you and upon all that you worship beside Allah. Do you have no sense?" (67) They said: "Burn him, and come to the support of your gods, if you are going to do anything." (21:68)
6. 📌Art of Argument: After the people became speechless, they brought Ibrahim PBUH to kings court. King started to argue with him by claiming him to be the god, He killed an innocent person and pardoned a convicted prisoner to claim that life and death is in his hands. Prophet Ibrahim said that My Lord rises Sun from the east, you make it rise from the west. This gives us a lesson that when arguing with people we should debate on our terms and do not get drifted by the trap of foolish argumentative people. Quran briefed the argument:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّـهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ
الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ
فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ
الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Have you not considered the case of the person who had an argument with
Abraham as to `Whom Abraham acknowledged as his Lord?' The dispute arose
because Allah had given him the kingship, (which had made him arrogant). When
Abraham said, "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death," he
answered, "I give life and cause death." Then Abraham said,
"Well, Allah brings the sun from the east: just bring it from the
west." At this the disbeliever was confounded: (yet he did not believe),
for Allah does not show guidance to unjust people. (2:258)
7. 📌Trust on Allah and His help: After all the arguments becomes fruitless, king and his nation tried to kill Prophet Ibrahim by throwing him in Fire. Allah save him from the fire by asking the fire to be cool and safe for Ibrahim PBUH. This remind us that if no one is on our side, but if we keep trust on Allah, he will save us from the wicked plans of treacherous persons
قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا
عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿٦٩﴾
Allah said: "O fire, become coolness and safety for Abraham." (21:69)
8. 📌Career Sacrifice: Ibrahim PBUH was born with golden spoon, in a family where he would succeed his father as chief priest and would have enjoyed the best career options. He sacrificed his family, bright career, wealth, friends and nation to achieve his mission. One should always prioritise his mission over all the worldly benefits. He left his hometown and wandered through out his life in different countries in spreading his message.
وَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي
سَيَهْدِينِ ﴿٩٩﴾
Abraham said: “I am going to my Lord; He will guide me. (37:99)
9. 📌 Continuity of mission: after spreading the message alone for 80+ years, Prophet Ibrahim asked to his Lord for his successor. In asking so, he asked for Righteous one who can continue his message forward. Allah has accepted his Duas (supplication) and has not only blessed him with two great sons (Ismael & Ishaq PBUT) but also the continuity of prophet hood in their offsprings.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ﴿١٠٠﴾فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ ﴿١٠١﴾
Lord, grant me a righteous son.” (100) (In response to this prayer) We gave him the good news of a prudent boy; (37:101)
10. 📌 Leaving family in desert: When Allah has blessed Prophet Ibrahim with a son in his old age, Lord has ordered him to take his wife Hajera RA and Ismail who was an infant & leave them in a barren land with no hope of life. Ibrahim didn’t hesitate nor his wife on Allah decree. He prayed to lord upon leaving them as mentioned in the Quran:
رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي
بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا
الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم
مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾ 14:37
"Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring settle in a barren valley near Your Sacred House! Our Lord! I did so that they may establish Prayer. So, make the hearts of people affectionately inclined to them, and provide them with fruits for their sustenance that they may give thanks. (14:37)
We get a message that when someone sacrifice himself in the
way of Allah, then He will provide the required sustenance.
11. 📌Dream of son’s sacrifice: Prophet Ibrahim saw in his dream about sacrificing his son, which he narrated to adolescent child Ismael, The son bow down in obedience and asked his father to proceed as per Allah’s commandment. Allah was so pleased with the obedient attitude of both father and son that this sunnah (tradition) is practised by Allah of his follower till this date on 10th day of Dhul hijjah (last month of Islamic calendar). This episode as narrated by Quran is quite admonishing:
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا
بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ
افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖسَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢﴾ فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ
لِلْجَبِينِ ﴿١٠٣﴾ وَنَادَيْنَاهُ
أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﴿١٠٤﴾ قَدْ
صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ
الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٠٦﴾ وَفَدَيْنَاهُ
بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾ وَتَرَكْنَا
عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ ﴿١٠٨﴾ سَلَامٌ
عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿١٠٩﴾ كَذَٰلِكَ
نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١١٠﴾ إِنَّهُ
مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١١١﴾
And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (102) And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, (103) We called to him, "O Abraham, (104) You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (105) Indeed, this was the clear trial. (106) And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, (107) And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: (108) "Peace upon Abraham." (109) Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (110) Indeed, he was of Our believing servants. (37: 111)
12. 📌Building Kaaba (House of Allah): After few years, on Allah’s order, prophet Ibrahim along with his son Ismail PBUT build the house of Allah and prayed for generations who will follow His path. Till date the foot prints of Ibrahim is preserved near holy Kaaba and muslims can have glimse of it.
وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ
مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴿١٢٧﴾ رَبَّنَا
وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ
وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٢٨﴾ رَبَّنَا
وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ
وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ
الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ﴿١٢٩﴾
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. (127) Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (128)
13. 📌Welfare and security of his dependents: Prophet Ibrahim PBUH did cared about the security and welfare of his future generations; he prayed to Allah to make Makkah a peaceful abode and provide them sources of sustenance for the people living in it. His prayers were answered and till date Makkah is a region of peace throughout history and inspite being a barren land, people got all fruits and vegetables to survive.
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ
هَـٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم
بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ
عَذَابِ النَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ ﴿١٢٦﴾
And remember that Abraham prayed, "Lord, make this city a city of peace and security, and provide with every kind of fruit those of its people, who believe in Allah and the Last Day'. Allah answered, "As for the disbelievers, I will also provide them with the necessities of life in this world, though in the Next World I will drag them to the torment of Hell, and that is the worst abode." (2:126)
14📌.Call for Hajj (Pilgrimage): on Allah’s order, Prophet Ibrahim made a call to people to come for Pilgrimage without having any media to convey the message to the masses; from then on till today millions of people answer his call by chanting “Labbaik Allahumma labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal-hamda wa-nimata laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka.”
لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ
لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ لَا
شَرِيكَ لَكَ
“I respond to Your
call O Allah! I respond to Your call. You have no partner. I respond to Your
call. All praise, thanks and blessings are for You. All sovereignty is for You.
And You have no partners with You).'”
وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ
الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ
وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ﴿٢٦﴾ وَأَذِّن
فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن
كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ ﴿٢٧﴾
and publicly proclaim Pilgrimage for all mankind so that they come to you on foot and mounted on lean camels from every distant point (22:27)
15. 📌Total Submission: Motto of Prophet Ibrahim’s life was total submission to the will of Allah. He never hesitated in sacrificing anything before Allah’s will. This is the core message & meaning of Islam to completely surrender oneself to the will of Allah our creator
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ
لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
When his Lord said to him, "Surrender," he promptly responded, "I have surrendered to the Lord of the Universe (and become a Muslim)." (2:131)
16.📌 Leader of Humanity: When Ibrahim PBUH passed successfully all the trials, Allah has made him a true model for humanity and a leader to whom all the followers of leading world religions accept. This gives us a message that legendary leadership is not established till one sacrifice all his assets.
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا
لِّلَّـهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to
Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with
Allah. (16: 120)
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ
بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن
ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١٢٤﴾
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." (2:124)
17. 📌Exemplary model for followers: Prophet Ibrahim PBUH is made as an exemplary model for the whole humanity to follow. As a son, As a father, as a Husband, as a preacher, As a young student, As a career oriented person, as a well wisher of humanity, As a preacher, as a debater etc. he excel in all spheres of life.
قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي
إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ
You have a good example in Abraham and his companions (60:4)
Today, we need a personality like Prophet Ibrahim in contemporary
world who can save humanity from the crises. As the poet Allamah Iqbal said:
آج بھی ہو جو
براہیم سا ایمان پیدا
آگ کرسکتی ہے انداز گلستان پیدا
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