Page 5 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 4 But Azar would not listen. He threatened his son with stoning if he would reject the gods of Ur. He ordered Abraham to leave the city with these words: “Now get away from me for a good long while!” Abraham said: Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious.”(Quran 19:46-47) Imagine how terrible it must have been for him to leave his home, his family and all that he knew, and set out across the wilderness into the unknown. But at the same time, how could he have remained among people who did not believe in God and who worshiped statues? Abraham always had a sense that God cared for him and he felt God near him as he traveled. At last, after a long hard journey, he arrived at a place by the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Egypt. There he married a woman by the name of Sarah and settled in the land of Palestine. Many years passed but Abraham (AS) and his wife were not blessed with any children. In the hope that there would be a child, and in keeping with tradition, Sarah suggested that Abraham (AS) should marry Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid. Birth of the Prophet Isma’il (A.S.) and the Migration to Mecca Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) prayed for a son in all sublimity and his prayer was granted. Hagar gave birth to a baby boy Isma’il (AS). Soon after, The Almighty commanded the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) to migrate to the Holy Land of Ka’bah in Makkah. In accordance with the Divine Commandment, the family set out on a long and troublesome journey. Towards the end of the journey the family set up their tents in a hilly area without any trees or water source around. The Prophet lsma’il (PBUH) was a few months old. He began crying because of thirst. His mother ran desperately in quest of water between the two hillocks called Safa and Marwa but found no water. When she returned back to the thirsty infant she was surprised to see the spring of Zam Zam emerged beneath the foot of the Prophet Isma’il (PBUH). She heaved a sigh of relief and quenched the thirst of her baby with the water. People came from far and wide to observe the miracle and gradually this locality named Mecca became the birth place of Islam. Vision of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) Regarding the Sacrifice of the Prophet Isma’il (AS) Prophet Ibrahim (AS) received a Commandment in his vision to sacrifice his only son Isma’il (AS). The Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) had no hesitation in complying with what he was ordered to do. The father told the son about the dream. To his great surprise, Isma’il (PBUH) had no objection and was willing to be sacrificed as The Almighty had willed. Prophet Isma’il (PBUH) said, “Omy father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, If God so wills, one of the steadfast.” (Qur’an 37:102) The Ordeal of the Sacrifice of Prophet Isma’il (PBUH) On the tenth day of Dhul Hijja, the father and his beloved son walked side by side. A young lad possessed forbearance and the old man was full of determination and spirit to complete his submission to The Almighty. Their purpose was to carry out the orders of their Lord. They proceeded towards Mina. Finally they reached a special spot. The father’s heart was beating violently as he laid his son prostrate on the ground. Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) was shaking with emotions as he drew the knife across the son’s neck, a moment of action, that isn’t possible to describe on paper - they heard a Divine Voice: “O’ Ibrahim! You have indeed shown the truth of the vision. Surely do We reward the doers of good.” (Qur’an 37:105) Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) was commanded not to sacrifice his son, instead a ram was provided for the sacrifice. The great moment of suspense came to an end. Both the father and son expressed a deep sense of happiness and gratitude to The Almighty. Glad Tidings Regarding the Birth of Prophet Ishaq (AS) When the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) displayed his unstinted submission to the orders of The Almighty, he was informed of the glad tiding regarding the birth of a baby from Sarah, his first wife. The Holy Qur’an affirms: “And We gave him the good news of Ishaq (Isaac)-a prophet, - one of the Righteous. We blessed him and Ishaq: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to themselves.” (Qur’an 37:112-113) The Construction of the Ka’bah The Ka’bah was constructed by the Prophet Ibrahim and the Prophet Isma’il (PBUT). The Holy Qur’an states: “Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the Station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Ibrahim and Isma’il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer).” (Qur’an 2:125) So both the father and son laid the foundations of the Ka’bah. Ishmael brought stones and Ibrahim fixed them. When the walls became higher, Ibrahim brought that stone which is famous by the name of Muqamu-Ibrahim and stood on it and began fixing stones and raised the walls higher. The Qur’an mentions in these words, “And remember Abraham and Isma’il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: for Thou art the All-hearing, The All-knowing. “Our Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (Will); and show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Relenting Most Merciful. “Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and purify them: for Thou art the Exalted in Might - The Wise.” (Qur’an 2:127-129) Burial Place The Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) lived for 175 years. His life was full of happenings, tests and trials. He had a firm faith in The Almighty. He gained thousands upon thousands of believers. When he passed away, he was buried in Heburon, about twenty-one miles southwest of Jerusalem. Mecca is Habituated The Prophet Isma’il (PBUH) and his mother settled down in the vicinity of the Kab’ah. From the descendants of Ishmael would form a nation fromwhich would come a great Prophet, who would guide the people in the way of God. This was Muhammed (SAW), the Messenger of God. From the descendants of Sarah’s child, Isaac, would come Moses (AS) and Jesus (AS).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjQ1