Stories of the Prophets

Ibrahim (A.S.)

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

Description of Abraham and his Family

Some of the People of the Book stated that his name was Abraham Ibn Tarikh, Ibn Nahur, Ibn

Sarough, Ibn Raghu, Ibn Phaligh, Ibn Aher, Ibn Shalih, Ibn Arfghshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah.

They said that when Tarikh was seventy five years old, he had Abraham, Nahor (Nohour) and

Haran. Haran had a son named Lot. They also said that Abraham was the middle child and that

Haran died in the lifetime of his father in the land where he was born, the land of the Chaldeans

(Al Kaldanieen), also known as Babylonia. At that time some people worshipped idols of stone

and wood; others worshipped the planets, stars, sun and moon; still others worshipped their kings

and rulers.

Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typical family of that ancient time. The head of the

family was not even an ordinary idolater, but was one who totally rejected Allah and who used to

make the idols with his own hands. Some traditions claimed that Abraham's father died before his

birth and he was raised by an uncle whom Abraham called father. Other traditions said that his

father was alive and was named Azer.

Into that family Abraham was born, destined to stand against his own family, against the entire

system of his community. In brief, he stood against all kinds of polytheism.

Abraham's Childhood

He was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early age. Allah enlightened his heart and

mind gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah the Almighty stated:

"Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well

Acquainted with him( as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc). (Ch 21:51)

During his early childhood Abraham realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he

asked him about what it was he made. His father replied that he made statues of gods. Abraham

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 the statue of Mardukh and he became furious. He ordered his

son not to play with it again.

Abraham asked: "What is this statue, father? It has big ears, bigger than ours."

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His father answered: "It is Mardukh, the god of gods, son! These big ears show his deep

knowledge."

This made Abraham laugh, he was only seven years old at that time.

Abraham's Hatred for Idols

Years passed and Abraham grew. Since his childhood his heart had been full of hatred for these

idols. He could not understand how a sane person could make a statue and then worship what he