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He began to debate with his people, telling them that the stars, the moon, the sun, the earth and all that is made in this earth are servants to one higher power. Stop worshiping these slaves of Allah, and worship Allah alone. Many of his people laughed at him, and turned death ears. They had covers on their eyes and their hearts. Others became offended with Ibrahim's (pbuh) lack of respect for their idols. Ibrahim (pbuh) had drawn a permanent separation from his people. His family was furious. Being a good man, Ibrahim (pbuh) was respectful to them. He tried as little as possible to anger them. His family worshipped theses idols and also made a living sculpting and selling them. He continued searching for ways to cure this disease, that he felt inflicted his people. He challenged them. He said "if your idol's had any really power they should have killed him by now out of defiance." He tried to explain to them the beauty that was all around them, one God had created. Ibrahim (pbuh) prayed that Allah would forgive the sins of his people. He left his home and walked down the deserted streets. He carried with him an axe, as he entered the empty temple. Ibrahim (pbuh) stood in front of the statues made of wood and stone. Food had been set in front of them as an offering. He said out loud “Why don’t you eat?” Mocking them he asked them “what was wrong that they do not eat, why did they not speak?” Ibrahim (pbuh) raised the axe and smashed all of the false gods except for one. The last one he hung his axe on and left feeling very satisfied. The following day the people were horrified to see what was left of their idols. They knew that the only person deviant enough to have done this, must be Ibrahim (pbuh). They demanded justice. Ibrahim (pbuh) was confronted by the chief of the village. He asked Ibrahim (pbuh) why he would do this. Ibrahim (pbuh) only turned to him and asked him why had they not protected them selves against the attack. That maybe the Idol still standing was the culprit. These false god's should have been able to stop their own destruction. Why don't they ask the big one, who did this. The people, frustrated with his answer, knowing that since the idols could not speak, wanted him punished for his insolence. They shut there ears to the wisdom of Ibrahim's (pbuh) words, not wanting to believe that he could be right. He was sentenced to be burned alive. The angel, Jibril came to Ibrahim (pbuh) asking him if there was anything that Ibrahim (pbuh) desired. Ibrahim (pbuh) said no. Ibrahim (pbuh) prayed for mercy, from Allah. Allah gave the command that the fire be cool and not touch Ibrahim (pbuh) in harm. The fire submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim (pbuh) felt as though he was in a cool garden. Ibrahim's (pbuh) heart filled with love for Allah, not an ounce of fear was inside of him. The people stayed gathered around the fire watching the fire burn, staying until the fire had burned out. They were surprised to see Ibrahim (pbuh) blacked by the smoke, but completely unharmed. Ibrahim (pbuh) left Ur and went north to Haran where he stayed for a short period of time. Ibrahim (pbuh) and his nephew Lut (pbuh) and his wife Sarah traveled teaching the oneness of Allah. When Ibrahim (pbuh) left Egypt and settled in Kin’an with Sarah. Lut (pbuh) was summoned by Allah to the city of Sodom, which was on the western shore of the Dead Sea. He became the Prophet to the people of Sodom, to try and change the evil ways of Sodom and the neighboring city Gomorrah. Ibrahim (pbuh) and Sarah visited Egypt calling people to Allah. During their visit, the king of Egypt gave Hajirah his slave to Ibrahim (pbuh). The king feared Ibrahim (pbuh) would bring devils upon him. Ibrahim (pbuh) took Hijrah as his second wife. She became pregnant with his first child Isma’il (pbuh). Ibrahim (pbuh) was sixty by this time. This caused Sarah who thought that she was infertile to envy Hijrah. Ibrahim (pbuh) took his son Isma'il (pbuh) and his wife Hajirah from Kin'an. Isma'il (pbuh) was still a babe in his mothers arms. Allah instructed Ibrahim (pbuh) to take his wife Hajirah and his son Isma'il (pbuh) to Hejaz. Hejaz was located deep in the desert of Arabia. It was a barren and waterless place. Not another person in sight. Ibrahim (pbuh) placed Isma'il (pbuh) on the ground near we're the Ka'bah stands today. Beside him he placed a bag filled with dates and skin of water. He started to walk away. Hajirah called him, begging him not to leave them. He did not listen. Finally she asked him if Allah had commanded him to leave them there. Ibrahim (pbuh) told her yes. She to, had faith in Allah, that if this is the will of Allah, she knew that no harm would come to them. He left them in the desert with a sorrowful heart, placing their lives in the hands of Allah. In time she and Isma'il (pbuh) ran out of supplies, she had begun running between the two hills, in search of people or subsidence. Seven times from the hill of Safa to Marwah she ran in her quest of water. Isma'il (pbuh) became so thirty, that he began crying and kicking the ground with his heels. The ground were his heels had hit, a small spring rushed miraculously forth from the ground. This water is still running to this day it is known as the Zam Zam water. A tribe that had been searching the desert for food and water known as the Banu Jaham, came upon Hajirah. They we're sitting by the stream. In awe, they two made camp, for they knew that their was no stream on this land before. She told them the story of the water, fascinated by her story. The Jaham decided to stay. The tribe set up a temporary settlement that became the city of Mecca. A few years later Ibrahim (pbuh) confronted Isma'il (pbuh) with a repeated dream he had. Isma'il (pbuh) was nine at the time. They both decided that the dream meant that Allah was asking Ibrahim (pbuh) to sacrifice Isma'il (pbuh). Isma'il (pbuh) having such strong faith in Allah said that if this was Allah's will then they must obey. Isma'il (pbuh) and his father traveled to Mina to perform their sacrifice. Ibrahim (pbuh) laid Isma'il (pbuh) down on the ground, with his arms and legs tied. He crouched over his son. Sorrow filled his heart. He placed the knife at the throat of Isma'il (pbuh). As soon as he did this the angel Jibril appeared and told him that Allah was pleased at the depth of their devotion. They we're willing to make this ultimate sacrifice to please him. A lamb appeared to be sacrificed in the place of Isma'il (pbuh). Jibril also announced the birth of Ishaq (pbuh), to Sarah. Sarah was in her olden age by then and Ibrahim (pbuh) had turned Ninety-nine. During Ibrahim's (pbuh) ninety ninth year, Allah commanded that Ibrahim (pbuh) and all of his male believers, their children, from this time on should be circumcised. The divine order was obeyed. This is still carried out today. Allah also commanded Ibrahim (pbuh) and his son Isma'il (pbuh), to build the Ka'bah in Mecca. To serve as a House of worship for Allah. Isma'il (pbuh) and Ibrahim (pbuh) began to call people to prayer at the Ka'bah. The Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) asked his son to bring a good stone to mark the corner of foundation. So that for all times this place would be marked, as Allah had commanded. The black stone was placed in the corner. It is said to have come directly from the heavens. The stone was known as Hajar al-Aswad. When they completed the Ka'bah, both of them prayed to Allah for acceptance of their service. Once his wife Sarah passed on, Ibrahim (pbuh) married his third wife whose name was Qutura. Ibrahim (pbuh) and Qutura had many children together. Once during Ibrahim (pbuh) life he grew curious how life, death and life again would work. He asked Allah to show him. Allah asked Ibrahim (pbuh) if he had doubts in the day of resurrection. Ibrahim (pbuh) replied “no my lord, I have no doubt in the magnificence of your powers, I only wanted to satisfy my curiosity of the process. Allah instructed Ibrahim (pbuh) 'bring together four birds, let them become familiar with you, then slaughter, and mix their meat and bone, scatter it on four hills that face each other, call the birds by their names, and they will come to you. Ibrahim (pbuh) did as instructed, and By Allah's will Ibrahim's (pbuh) birds came back answering his questions about death and life. Ibrahim (pbuh) was known as the father of all Prophets for his courage and his faith to Allah. Ibrahim (pbuh) died at the age of one hundred and Seventy five. May Peace be upon Ibrahim.
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