Islamic stories

Towards seeking Knowledge: Prophet Ibrahim and the 4 birds

Allah tells us a story about Prophet Ibrahim in Suratul Baqarah:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِـي الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُوْمِن قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَيِنَّ قَلْبِ"

"My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead."

Allah asks him:" Do you not believe,"

He answers:" Yes (I believe), but to be stronger in faith."

This shows that the more eager you ran toward learning about Allah you reach a point where you are satisfied with Your Lord.

The Prophet Peace be upon him also made a statement about this aya and said; " We are more liable to seek certainty."

Allah then so as to teach him (and us) said;

قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ الطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ

"Take four birds, then cause them to incline towards you."

This means to find 4 birds, then asked him to surhunah ilayh(chop them up everything from the 4 birds i.e feathers, legs head. Mix them up)

then Allah continues; ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَلَى كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ادْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا and then put a portion of them on every hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste.

That mean, Ibrahim (a.s) has to go to the peak of the mountains, divide the parts and place part of of the birds take it over to the mountain and come again take another collection and take it to another mountain.

Scholar have differed in the number of mountains, some say its four other say its seven, some say more than than.) And Allah here mentions a mountain, an average of 2 months to climb a mountain this shows that Knowledge require sacrifice and dedication, it going to get tiresome just like climbing the mountain and imagine now the mountains have undergone erosion and arent like the mountains years and centuries, decades ago. Thus this took a lot more time than we know.

Ibrahim a.s does as he was asked then Allah asks him,دْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا call them they will come running to you, some mufasirun says he saw the parts of the birds began assembling themselves in the air, feathers from that mountain comes to the right bird; bones.

Ibn Abbas said,

"Ibrahim kept the heads of these birds in his hand. Next, Allah commanded Ibrahim to call the birds to him, and he did as Allah commanded him. Ibrahim witnessed the feathers, blood and flesh of these birds fly to each other, and the parts flew each to their bodies, until every bird came back to life and came walking at a fast pace towards Ibrahim, so that the example that Ibrahim was witnessing would become more impressive.

Each bird came to collect its head from Ibrahim's hand, and if he gave the bird another head the bird refused to accept it. When Ibrahim gave each bird its own head, the head was placed on its body by Allah's leave and power. "

Allah then says; " وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ And know that Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."

After all these sacrifices, now you should know that Allah is the the All-Mighty, Supreme above all things and He is Wise in His statements, actions, legislation and decrees. It took Prophet Ibrahim a lot of effort to learn two attributes of Allah.

Kamaa baddaana awala khalq nuuiduh Just like He created you the first time you the first time is the same way we will bring you back. This shows the capability of Allah in everything.

How much effort do we put in learning about Allah. We have everything that give us a chance to learn about Allah, but what is it, we tend to waste or put effort in non worthy things. We forget what the Prophet told us, Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to paradise He pbuh also said;

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ وَالْفِقْهُ بِالتَّفَقُّهِ وَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ

بِهِ خَيْرًا يُفَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَإِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

O people, knowledge only comes by learning and understanding only comes by seeking understanding. For whomever Allah intends good, he gives him understanding of the religion. Verily, only those with knowledge fear Allah among his servants. (35:28)

Source: al-Mujam al-Kabīr 929, Grade: Hasan

DID YOU KNOW

Prophet Ibrahim alyhi salam was know as Khalilu Allah which means he is the friend of Allah.