Page 4 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 4 Hajj - How It All Began Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (A.S.) and Prophet Isma’il (Ishmael) (A.S.) Nearly four thousand and six years ago, in the Summerian town of Ur, the capital of the Babylonian Kings, in the valley of river Euphrates (which at present is Southern Iraq), lived a young man named Ibrahim (Abraham)(PBUH). The people of Ur had once worshipped God but as time passed they forgot the true religion and started praying to idols, statues made of wood or clay and sometimes even precious stones. The Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) was the son of Terah Azar, an idol carver and a staunch idol worshiper. He did all he could do to compel Ibrahim (AS) to worship the idols, but he flatly refused to do so. Even as a small child Ibrahim (AS) could not understand how his people, and especially his father, could make these images with their own hands, call them gods, and then worship them. He had always refused to join his people when they paid respect to these statues. Instead he would leave the town and sit alone, thinking about the heavens and the world around him. He was sure his people were doing wrong and so alone he searched for the right way. One clear night as he sat staring at the sky he saw a beautiful shining star, so beautiful that he cried out: “This is my Lord.”(Qur’an 6:76) He looked at it in awe for some time, until suddenly it began to fade and then it disappeared. He turned away in disappointment saying: “I love not those that set.”(Qur’an 6:76) On another night Ibrahim (AS) was again looking at the sky and he saw the rising moon, so big and bright. He said: “This is my Lord.”(Qur’an 6:77) But it was not long before the moon set as well. Then he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among those who go astray.”(Qur’an 6:77) Abraham (PBUH) then saw the beauty and splendor of the sunrise and decided that the sun must be the biggest and most powerful thing in the universe. But for the third time he was wrong, for the sun set at the end of the day. “When he saw the sun rising (in splendor) he said: “This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all).” But when the sun set, he said: “O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to God. For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and earth, and never shall I give partners to The Almighty.” (Qur’an 6:78-79) It was then that he realized that God is the Most Powerful, the Creator of the stars, the moon, the sun, the earth and of all living things. Suddenly he felt himself totally at peace, because he felt that he had found the Truth. Speaking highly of him, the Holy Qur’an states: “Ibrahim was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to The Almighty, and true in faith, and he was not of those who set up equals to The Almighty. He showed his gratitude for the favors of The Almighty, Who chose him and guided him to a straight path. And We gave him good in this world, and he will be, in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous.” (Qur’an 16:120-122) The Prophet Ibrahim’s Teachings Gradually the Prophet was commanded to commence preaching. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was a man of strong will and determination and he argued with his people with great vigor regarding the folly of worshipping the idols. “And rehearse to them (something of) Abraham’s story. Behold, he said to his father and his people: “What worship ye? They said: “We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them.” He said: “Do they listen to you when ye call (on them), Or do you good or harm?” They said: “Nay, but we found our fathers doing thus (what we do).” He said: “Do ye then see whom ye have been worshipping, “Ye and your fathers before you? “For they are enemies to me; not so the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds; “Who created me, and it is He who guides me; “Who gives me food and drink, “And when I am ill, it is He who cures me; “Who will cause me to die, and then to live (again); “and who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the Day of judgment. “O my Lord! Bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; “Grant me honorable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest (generations); “Make me one of the inheritors of the Garden of Bliss; “Forgive my father, for that he is among those astray; “And let me not be in disgrace on the Day when (men) will be raised up; “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, “But only he (will prosper) that brings to God a sound heart. (Qur’an 26:69-89) Opposition by the People and Discussion with the King The people paid no heed to his teachings and did not refrain from idol worshipping. The ruler at that time was king Nemrud, who claimed himself to be a god. He conducted a meeting with Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). In the meeting Nemrud asked: “What is this thing you are calling people for? Why do you persuade the people to worship an invisible God?” The Prophet replied back boldly: “My God is the One Who gives and takes away life.” Nemrud answered arrogantly: “I also have the power to do that. I can kill the people and also spare them.” Prophet Ibrahim at this point couldn’t resist asking Nemrud. He asked: “My God makes the sun rise in the East and set it in the West, can you make it rise in the West and set it in the East?” At this Nemrud couldn’t say anything. Breakage of the Idols Once there was a grand celebration and everybody in town was attending it except Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). He had a special plan in his mind. He proceeded towards the temple and started axing down the idols. When the people returned they were shocked to find their idols smashed to pieces except the chief idol. Someone suggested that it was the work of Ibrahim (PBUH) and he was immediately summoned in. He was sentenced to be burned alive. A huge furnace was created for this purpose. The Prophet had full faith in The Almighty and remained calm. When he was tossed in the center of the furnace, the flames were blazing, but the Prophet was unharmed and sometime later Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) walked out of the fire safely. All the spectators were surprised at the miracle. Still Abraham (PBUH) tried to persuade his own dear father not to worship powerless, un-seeing, un-hearing statues. Abraham explained that special knowledge had come to him and implored his father, “So Follow me: I will guide Thee to a Way that is even and straight. O my father! Serve not Satan: for Satan is a rebel against (God) Most Gracious.” (Qur’an 19:43-44) Hajj (Pilgrimage)
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