THE SELLER OF IDOLS

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TOPIC 3

• THE SELLER OF IDOLS COLD FIRE
• WHO IS MY GOD? THE INVITATION FOR THE FATHER
• TO MECCA BAIT AL MAQDIS

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Learning Outcomes 1/2

• Describe the environment in which Prophet
  Ibraheem was born.
• Explain why Ibraheem decided to break the idols
  worshipped by his people.
• Explain how intelligently Ibraheem planned the
  destruction of the idols worshipped by his
  people.
• Explain how Ibraheem was saved from the fire by
  Allah the Almighty.
• Realize the power of Ibraheems arguments before
  which the idols, celestial bodies and kings
  were left speechless.

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Learning Outcomes 2/2

• Understand Allahs caring for His Friends and
  their families.
• Explain the origin of the water of Zamzam.
• Understand how and why the Kaba was built.
• Realize the human tendency of jealousy even for
  the true believers.

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Introduction

• Ibraheem was born in an environment where people
  worshipped everything but Allah the Almighty.
• Born in such an atmosphere, Ibraheem stood
  against the entire system of his community
  against all kinds of polytheism. This is the
  beginning of a life-time struggle in order to
  bring humanity back to its Creator, the Almighty
  Allah.

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The seller of idols

• Ibraheems family lived in a city called
  Babylonia long time ago. His father, Azar, was
  famous in the city because he was fabricating and
  selling idols.
• Since his childhood Ibraheem had a strong
  aversion for the idols and he could understand
  why his people, his father included, are
  worshipping these man-made statues.

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Azars son

• As a child he noticed that his father used to
  make strange statues and after long observations
  and thoughts, he finally decided to ask his
  father about what he is making.
• Azar answered that he is making statues of gods.
  The small child was astonished by this answer and
  he spontaneously rejected the idea altogether.
• He was shocked when he saw people, his own father
  included, prostrating and begging these idols for
  help and even crying in the process.
• To make things worse, Azar expected Ibraheem to
  become a priest when he grew up.

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The advice of Ibraheem 1/2

• Ibraheems father was very angry and furious
  about his sons attitude towards the idols
  because his father not only worshipped idols but
  sculpted and sold them as well. Thus, the
  attitude of his son is very embarrassing for him.
  
• On the other hand, Ibraheem thought that it was
  his duty as a good son to advise his father
  against this evil so that he could be saved from
  ALLAHs punishment.
• He approached his father wisely and began using
  gentle words in order to convince him to abandon
  worshipping lifeless idols.

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The advice of Ibraheem 2/2

• His fathers reply was harsh. He (the father)
  said Do you reject my gods, O Abraham? If you
  stop not this, I will indeed stone you. So get
  away from me safely before I punish you.
• Notwithstanding that negative result from his own
  father, he decided to give the same advice to his
  people.
• Like his father, the people became angry and did
  not understand what he meant.

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Ibraheem breaks the idols 1/2

• When he realized that the people would not give
  up worshipping idols, he made the firm decision
  to destroy these idols.
• Once the idols destroyed, there is no room for
  anyone of his people to still believe that the
  idols can do any good to someone since they
  cannot even protect themselves, Ibraheem thought.
• He waited the day of their annual festival when
  everybody at the celebration outside the city to
  execute his plan.
• He entered the temple and found the food laid in
  front of the stone and wood statues of the gods
  as offerings.

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Ibraheem breaks the idols 2/2

• Ibraheem wanted to mock the idols before
  destroying them. So he approached one of the
  statues and asked Come on! The food in front of
  you is getting cold! Why dont you eat?
• The statue remained silent. Then he went around
  asking all the other statues Will you not eat
  of the offering before you? (Ch 37 91). What
  is the matter with you that you do not speak?
  (Ch 37 92).
• Ibraheem then started hitting the false gods
  worshipped by the people and destroyed them
  except a big one on whose neck he put the axe.

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Who did that? 1/2

• After the festival was over, people returned back
  and as usual, they headed to the temple to show
  their respect to their idols in this special day
  but were surprised, shocked, and angry to find
  their gods lying in pieces all over the temple.
• The name of Ibraheem came to their minds since he
  was the one who was questioning their worship of
  idols. A quick order was given to bring him now.
  
• They said Are you the one who has done this to
  our gods, O Abraham?
• Abraham said nay, this one, the biggest of them
  (idols) did it, Ask them, if they can speak!

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Who did that? 2/2

• So they turned to themselves and said Verily
  you are the Zalimun (polytheists, and
  wrongdoers). Then they turned to themselves
  (their first thought and said) Indeed you
  (Abraham) know well that these idols speak not?
• Abraham said Do you then worship besides Allah,
  things that can neither profit you nor harm you?
  (Ch 21 59-67).
• But instead of recognizing the truth, their
  arrogance pushed them to reject it and even
  deciding to punish Ibraheem.

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Cold fire

• Some of them suggested that they should burn him
  and this is what they went for.
• Ibraheem was then tied and thrown into the fire.
• Immediately Allahs command to the fire O fire!
  Be you coolness and safety for Abraham. (Ch 21
  69).

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Who is my God?

• Ibraheem demonstrated to the worshippers of the
  stars and alikethat these heavenly bodies should
  not be worshipped and taken for gods since they
  are creatures of Allah and they appeared at one
  time and disappeared at another time.
• The Holy Quran narrated to us how he drew the
  attention of the worshippers to show them the
  falsity of their actions.
• When he saw the stars, he said This is my lord.
  But when it set he said I like not that those
  who set. He did the same when he saw the moon
  and the sun and concluded that they cannot be his
  gods since they disappeared.
• He told them that his Lord is Allah the Almighty
  to whom nothing can be hidden and that there is
  no deity but Allah.

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Ibraheems invitation

• Ibraheem delivered the message revealed to him by
  Allah to his people. He challenged the peoples
  worship of idols.
• He asked them
• What do you worship? They answered back
• We worship idols. He said
• Do they hear you when you call? Or help or harm
  you?
• They said We found our fathers doing that.
• Here Ibraheem is trying to show them the
  irrationality of worshiping idols. Since everyday
  action people is motivated by either seeking
  rewards and profits or avoiding pains, he asked
  them their idols can do one of these things.

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In front of the king 1/2

• There was one king named Namrud who proclaimed
  himself god and was worshipped by people.
• When he heard that Ibraheem walked out safely
  from the fire and that he only prostrated himself
  before Allah alone and not before anyone else, he
  became angry and afraid that Ibraheem may
  challenge his deity.
• So the king Namrud decided to silence Ibraheem
  and sent for him.
• When Ibraheem arrived, the king asked him who is
  your Lord, Ibraheem

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In front of the king 2/2

• He answered My lord (Allah) is He Who gives life
  and causes death.
• Then the king said, I also give life and cause
  death.
• It was reported that the king had a man brought
  before him and had him killed and then he had
  another man brought before him and let him alive.
  Then turned proudly to Ibraheem and said You
  see! I give life and death. I killed one man and
  let the other man live
• So he said to the king Allah brings the sun
  from the east. Now you bring it from the west.
  The king was bewildered and could not find
  anything to attack back.

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To Mecca 1/2

• Ibraheem has became aged after spending many
  years worshiping Allah alone and calling people
  to follow his way of worship.
• But he was not yet father because his wife and
  only follower, Sarah, was sterile.
• Sarah was offered a female-slave, an Egyptian
  Coptic girl called Hajar.

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To Mecca 2/2

• After spending many years in Jerusalem, his wife
  Sarah told him, As Allah deprived me of
  children, you may marry Hajar, hoping that she
  begets children to you.
• He then married Hajar who became pregnant. She
  started feeling proud over her mistress Sarah who
  began to get jealous.
• Sarah requested that he get Hajar far of her
  sight. He answered her request and took Hajar and
  her son Ismael to a far place which is the
  present Mecca.
• He stayed at Mecca for some time and then left
  his wife Hajar and his son Ismael.

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Zam Zams well 1/2

• Hajar and her son Ismael stayed there alone in
  that uninhabited place and when the water
  finished, they felt thirsty.
• She went forth and back between Mount Safa and
  Marwa searching for water seven times.

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Zam Zams well 2/2

• She then found the angel in the location of the
  Well of Zamzam. The angel dug the ground with his
  heal or with his wing until water sprung out. She
  went on limiting it from the four directions and
  took handfuls of water and put it in her
  container, while water kept gushing out every
  time she took a handful.
• Hajar and her son drank. They lived there for
  some time before a group of people from a tribe
  called Jurhum passing by and found them.
• They obtained her permission to settle down with
  her near the water.
• This was how Mecca was established.

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Ibraheems dream 1/2

• During the stay of Hajar and Ismael at Mecca,
  Ibraheem was visiting them from time to time.
• On the first visit, he was very happy with his
  son who began to run, play, and go around with
  his father.
• Then he dreamed that he sacrificed his son
  Ismael.

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Ibraheems dream 2/2

• Allah wanted to test him and see which one would
  he sacrifice for the other between his love for
  Allah and his love for his son.
• He wanted first to see what is the opinion of his
  son and asked him, I have seen in a dream that I
  must sacrifice you. So what do you think?
• His son Ismael replied My father, do what you
  are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me
  one of the steadfast. Ch 37 102).
• Once he put the knife on the throat of his son,
  Ibraheem has already passed the test andAllah
  sent the angel Gabriel with a sheep from the
  Garden which he sacrificed instead of his own son
  

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Al Kaba 1/2

• After a long time away, Ibraheem visited Ismael
  again at Mecca after the death of Hajar.
• This time he informed his son that Allah has
  ordered him to build a house Kaba at Mecca and
  he needed the cooperation of his son.
• Ismael assured him that he would give him his
  assistance in implementing Allahs command.

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Al Kaba 2/2

• They then started working they carried stones
  from around Mecca and built the Kaba while
  remembering Allah and asking him to accept this
  from them, Our Lord, accept this from us! You
  are the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing! (Ch 2
  127).
• Once again, Allah accepted this work from
  Ibraheems family and blessed the Kaba. Toady,
  millions of Muslims are facing the Kaba in each
  of the five daily prayers from all parts of the
  globe.
• Other millions are traveling to it annually in
  order to perform the pilgrimage Hajj and go
  around the Kaba in tawaf.

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Bait Al Maqdis 1/2

• When Ibraheem was away from Hajar and Ismael at
  Mecca, he stayed at Bait Al Maqdis Jerusalem
  with his other wife Sarah.
• After 13 years of Ismaels birth by Hajar, Allah
  the Most Merciful granted Sarah a so whose name
  was Ishaq.

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Bait Al Maqdis 2/2

• Ibrahim, Sarah, and Ishaq lived in Palestine
  (Bait Al Maqdis Jerusalem) while Hajar and
  Ismael lived in Mecca and Ibraheem visited them
  from time to time.
• Ishaq erected a house for Allah in Palestine
  just as his father and brother had done in Mecca.
  It is in Bait Al Maqdis Jerusalem and it is
  known today as Al-Aqsa Mosque which Allah
  blessed the land around it.
• Ishaq had a son named Yaqub who was a Prophet
  and had twelve sons, including Yusuf ibn Yaqub
  whose wonderful story was fully narrated to us in
  the Holy Quran.

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Conclusion

• This is the summary of the life of one the great
  Prophets of Allah Ibraheem - whose whole life
  was devoted to the cause of Allah.
• Allah blessed and rewarded his efforts and made
  him His Close One. He also made all the
  Prophets with divine books after from his
  descendants.
• Moreover, Ibraheem was ranked second among the
  Messengers of Firm Will after Muhammad (peace and
  blessings be upon all of them). The rest three of
  Messengers of Firm Will were Noah, Moses, and
  Jesus.
• According to Ibn Khathir, the People of the Book
  report that Sarah died in Hebron at the age of
  127. Ibraheem buried her and shortly afterwards,
  he fell ill and died at the age of 175 or 190.
  Allah knows best.

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REFERENCES

• ENGLISH
• Ibn Kathir, Imam Abi al-Fidaa Ismail. Stories of
  the Prophets Qissasul anbiya. Trans. Muhammad
  Mustapha, Azhar Unversity. From
  www.islambasics.com
•  
• bn Kathir, Imam Abi al-Fidaa Ismail. Stories of
  the Prophets Qissasul anbiya. 2001. Trans.
  Sayed, G, Tamir, Abu A., Muhammad, A. M.
  Al-Mansoura Dar Al-Manarah.
•  
• Sayyed, Abul Hassan Ali Nadwi. 1990. The Stories
  of the Prophets. UK ISLAMIC ACADEMY.
•  

• ARABIC
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• 6- ??? ????, ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ????????
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  ??????? ??????? 2003?.