Abraham Debates With Idol Worshipers
Recall that Abraham said to his father Ãzer, "How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray."

Abraham was a prophet and saint (19:41), guided and given understanding by God from his youth (21:51). God sent him first to his own father, Ãzer, and to his people, who worshiped statues (6:74, 21:52). Dr. Khalifa calls him the original messenger of Submission: Islam was the only religion God recognized from Adam on, but the Quran names Abraham as the first to use the word "Islam" and the one who named us "Submitters" (22:78).
His story starts with his search for God. He watched a shining planet, then the moon, then the sun. Each one set, and he rejected each in turn: "I do not like (gods) that disappear." He gave himself to "the One who initiated the heavens and the earth" (6:76-79). He gently urged his father to stop worshiping what "can neither hear, nor see," and his father threatened to stone him (19:42-46). One day, while his people were away, he broke their idols into pieces and left only the big one. When they questioned him, he told them to ask that idol. They had to admit that "these cannot speak" (21:57-65). Their answer was to throw him into a fire, and God commanded, "O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham" (21:68-69). He also stumped a king who claimed to grant life and death by asking him to bring the sun up from the west (2:258). Lot believed with him, and God saved both of them to a blessed land (29:26, 21:71).
Abraham prayed for righteous children and was given Ismail (37:100-101). He settled part of his family in a "plantless valley" at God's Sacred House and prayed that they would keep the Contact Prayers (14:37). There, with Ismail, he raised the foundations of the Ka'aba and asked God to "teach us the rites of our religion" (2:127-128). When the boy was old enough to work with him, Abraham saw a dream of sacrificing him. Both submitted, but God called out, "You have believed the dream," and ransomed Ismail with an animal sacrifice (37:102-107). Dr. Khalifa explains that the dream came from Satan, not God, because "God never advocates sin" (7:28). As with Job, Satan was allowed to test whether Abraham loved his son more than God (37:102). Later, angels visited Abraham on their way to Lot's people. They brought the news that his elderly wife would give birth to Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob. Abraham then pleaded for Lot's people until he was told the judgment was final (11:69-76). He once asked to see how God revives the dead, "to reassure my heart," and was shown with four birds (2:260).
The Quran draws several lessons from his life. Abraham passed the tests God put him through and was made an imam for the people (2:124). God took him as "a beloved friend" (4:125). Submission is called "the religion of Abraham," and Muhammad himself was told to follow it (2:130-135, 16:123). God taught Abraham and his descendants the Contact Prayers and the obligatory charity (21:73). Dr. Khalifa takes from this that every practice of Submission (Salat, Zakat, fasting and Hajj) was already established through Abraham before the Quran came (2:135).
Abraham is held up as "a good example" for disowning idol worship completely. The one exception is that he promised to pray for his father's forgiveness, and he disowned his father once he saw he was God's enemy (60:4, 9:114). The Quran's description of him sums up what it wants us to learn from him: "clement, extremely kind, and obedient" (11:75).
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Recall that Abraham said to his father Ãzer, "How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray."
We showed Abraham the marvels of the heavens and the earth, and blessed him with certainty:
When the night fell, he saw a shining planet. "Maybe this is my Lord," he said. When it disappeared, he said, "I do not like (gods) that disappear."
When he saw the moon rising, he said, "Maybe this is my Lord!" When it disappeared, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will be with the strayers."
When he saw the sun rising, he said, "This must be my Lord. This is the biggest." But when it set, he said, "O my people, I denounce your idolatry.
"I have devoted myself absolutely to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an idol worshiper."
His people argued with him. He said, "Do you argue with me about GOD, after He has guided me? I have no fear of the idols you set up. Nothing can happen to me, unless my Lord wills it. My Lord's knowledge encompasses all things. Would you not take heed?
"Why should I fear your idols? It is you who should be afraid, since you worship instead of GOD idols that are utterly powerless to help you. Which side is more deserving of security, if you know?"
Mention in the scripture Abraham; he was a saint, a prophet.
He said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship what can neither hear, nor see, nor help you in any way?
"O my father, I have received certain knowledge that you did not receive. Follow me, and I will guide you in a straight path.
"O my father, do not worship the devil. The devil has rebelled against the Most Gracious.
"O my father, I fear lest you incur retribution from the Most Gracious, then become an ally of the devil."
He said, "Have you forsaken my gods, O Abraham? Unless you stop, I will stone you. Leave me alone."
He said, "Peace be upon you. I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He has been Most Kind to me.
"I will abandon you and the gods you worship besides GOD. I will worship only my Lord. By imploring my Lord alone, I cannot go wrong."
Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.*
*21:51 Was Abraham so smart as to discover God, or, did God grant him the intelligence because He knew that he deserved to be saved? As it turns out, this whole world was created to redeem those among us who deserve redemption. When the angels suggested that all the rebels, humans and jinns, must be banished out of God's kingdom, 'I know what you do not know' (2:30). At the same time, this world proves Satan's incompetence as a god (App. 7).
He said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoting yourselves?"
They said, "We found our parents worshiping them."
He said, "Indeed, you and your parents have gone totally astray."
They said, "Are you telling us the truth, or are you playing?"
He said, "Your only Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, who created them. This is the testimony to which I bear witness.
"I swear by GOD, I have a plan to deal with your statues, as soon as you leave."
He broke them into pieces, except for a big one, that they may refer to it.
They said, "Whoever did this to our gods is really a transgressor."
They said, "We heard a youth threaten them; he is called Abraham."
They said, "Bring him before the eyes of all the people, that they may bear witness."
They said, "Did you do this to our gods, O Abraham?"
He said, "It is that big one who did it. Go ask them, if they can speak."
They were taken aback, and said to themselves, "Indeed, you are the ones who have been transgressing."
Yet, they reverted to their old ideas: "You know full well that these cannot speak."
He said, "Do you then worship besides GOD what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you?
"You have incurred shame by worshiping idols beside GOD. Do you not understand?"
They said, "Burn him and support your gods, if this is what you decide to do."
We said, "O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham."*
*21:69 "Cool," without "and safe" would have caused Abraham to freeze.
Thus, they schemed against him, but we made them the losers.
We saved him, and we saved Lot, to the land that we blessed for all the people.
He said, "I am going to my Lord; He will guide me."
"My Lord, grant me righteous children."
We gave him good news of a good child.
When he grew enough to work with him, he said, "My son, I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think?" He said, "O my father, do what you are commanded to do. You will find me, GOD willing, patient."
*37:102 The Most Merciful never advocates evil (7:28). As with Job, Satan claimed that Abraham loved his son too much, and was permitted to put Abraham to that severe test.
They both submitted, and he put his forehead down (to sacrifice him).
We called him: "O Abraham.
"You have believed the dream." We thus reward the righteous.
That was an exacting test indeed.
We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice.
And we preserved his history for subsequent generations.
Peace be upon Abraham.
We thus reward the righteous.
He is one of our believing servants.
Then we gave him the good news about the birth of Isaac, to be one of the righteous prophets.
When our messengers went to Abraham with good news, they said, "Peace." He said, "Peace," and soon brought a roasted calf.
When he saw that their hands did not touch it, he became suspicious and fearful of them. They said, "Do not be afraid, we are being dispatched to the people of Lot."
His wife was standing, and she laughed when we gave her the good news about Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob.
She said, "Woe to me, how could I bear a child at my age, and here is my husband; an old man? This is really strange!"
They said, "Do you find it strange for GOD? GOD has bestowed His mercy and blessings upon you, O inhabitants of the shrine. He is Praiseworthy, Glorious."
When Abraham's fear subsided, and the good news was delivered to him, he proceeded to argue with us on behalf of Lot's people.
Indeed, Abraham was clement, extremely kind, and obedient.
"O Abraham, refrain from this. Your Lord's judgment has been issued; they have incurred unavoidable retribution."
Recall that Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, through certain commands, and he fulfilled them. (God) said, "I am appointing you an imam for the people." He said, "And also my descendants?" He said, "My covenant does not include the transgressors."
We have rendered the shrine (the Ka'aba) a focal point for the people, and a safe sanctuary. You may use Abraham's shrine as a prayer house. We commissioned Abraham and Ismail: "You shall purify My house for those who visit, those who live there, and those who bow and prostrate."
Abraham prayed: "My Lord, make this a peaceful land, and provide its people with fruits. Provide for those who believe in GOD and the Last Day." (God) said, "I will also provide for those who disbelieve. I will let them enjoy, temporarily, then commit them to the retribution of Hell, and a miserable destiny."
As Abraham raised the foundations of the shrine, together with Ismail (they prayed): "Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Omniscient.
"Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
"Our Lord, and raise among them a messenger to recite to them Your revelations, teach them the scripture and wisdom, and purify them. You are the Almighty, Most Wise."
Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except one who fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I submit to the Lord of the universe."