28/06/2019 7.

5 Abraham – A Study Of Qur'an

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7.5 Abraham
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The Qur’an contains a large number of verses on Abraham, and I start with a few: Acknowledgements
Four verses from the Qur’an
(2:124) And (remember) when his Sustainer tried Abraham with (His) 1. Introduction
commands, and he fulfilled them, He said: Lo! I have appointed thee a leader 2. Knowledge of Arabic and its
importance
for mankind. (Abraham said): And of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He
3. Basic rules to be followed in
said: My covenant includeth not wrong-doers.
the study of the Qur’an
3.1 Verses which are clear and
(37:100-110) O my Sustainer! Vouchsafe me of the righteous. So We gave him not subject to interpretation
tidings of a gentle son. And when (his son) was old enough to walk with him, 3.2 Verses which are allegorical
4. Explanation of the Qur’an by
(Abraham said) O my dear son, I have seen a dream that I must sacrifice thee.
the Qur’an
So look, what thinkest thou? He said: O my father! Do that which thou art
5. Understanding the first sura:
commanded. Allah willing, thou shalt find me of the steadfast. Then when they
Al-Fatiha, the key to the Qur’an
had both surrendered (to Allah), and he had put his forehead down, We called 6. Basic teachings of the Qur’an
unto him: O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We 7. The prophets and their
reward the good. Lo! that verily was a clear test. Then We redeemed him with a revelations
tremendous (azim) sacrifice, and left him thus to be remembered among later 7.1 Introduction
7.2 Adam
generations. Peace be unto Abraham. Thus do we reward the good.
7.3 Prophets named in the
Qur’an
The word ‘azim‘ means ‘tremendous’ or ‘mighty’. Thus, it is highly improbable that 7.4. Noah
7.5 Abraham
this sacrifice refers to the ram which Abraham found and slaughtered in place of
7.6 Moses
Isaac (Ishaq) (see Genesis 22:13; also chapter 18 below). The following two verses 7.7 Jesus
state clearly the duty or the responsibility  which both Abraham and Ishmael were to 7.8 Muhammad
undertake, in view of their total submission to the Will of Allah. The tremendous 8. Topics apparently
controversial
sacrifice asked for by Allah is that both should work for the cause of Allah.
8.1 Punishment for stealing
Unfortunately, Muslims believe the Biblical story, involving a ram, and think that they 8.2 Adultery
will be able to redeem themselves by sacrificing millions of animals at the end of Hajj 8.3 Does the Qur’an sanction
(pilgrimage). By ignoring the Qur’an, they fail to realise that the real sacrifice required the beating of women?
8.4 Women’s rights
by Allah from the believers is to work for the cause of Allah, steadfastly. 8.5 Divorce and reconciliation
procedure
(2:125) And when We made the House (at Mecca) a resort for mankind and a 8.6 Polygamy in Islam
8.7 The Veil (Hijab)
sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where Abraham 8.8 Jihad
stood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and Ishmael, (saying): 8.9 Intoxicating liquors
Purify My House for those who go round and those who meditate therein and 8.10 Gambling
8.11 Interest
those who bow down and prostrate themselves (in worship).
8.12 Intercession

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(2:127,128) And Abraham and Ishmael were raising the foundations of the 8.13 The ‘moon sighting’
controversy
House, (Abraham prayed): Our Sustainer! Accept from us (this duty). Lo! Thou,
9. Latter-day saints (Pirs)
only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower. Our Sustainer! make us submissive unto
10. The implications of Hadith
Thee and our seed a nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our ways of for Islam
worship, and relent towards us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Relenting, the 10.1 The meaning of Hadith and
Merciful. Sunnah
10.2 Historical background of
Hadiths
(22:27) And proclaim unto mankind the Pilgrimage. They will come unto thee on 10.3. Ways the Hadith
foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine. contradicts the Qur’an
10.4 Usefulness of Hadith
literature
(19:54) And make mention of Ishmael in this Scripture. Lo! he was a keeper of 11. The five pillars
his promise, and he was a messenger (of Allah), a Prophet. 11.1 Declaration of Faith/Belief 
11.2 Salat (Prayer)
11.3 Zakat
To fulfil his obligations Abraham settled some of his family near the Kaba. 11.4 Fasting
11.5 Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca)
(14:37) O our Sustainer! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley 12. Economic system of the
without cultivation, by the Sacred House in order, O our Sustainer, that they Qur’an
13. Law-making in Islam
may establish regular prayer: So fill the hearts of some among men with love
13.1 Introduction
towards them, and feed them with fruits in order that they may be thankful. 13.2 The development of
jurisprudence (ahle-fiqh)
13.3 Influence of the Hadiths as
Abraham was further blessed by another son in his old age as shown in the following
a source of law (ahle- hadith)
verse. 13.4 The legal system of the
Shi’ites
13.5 The Qur’an as a source of
(37:112,113) And We gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet of the
law
righteous. And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do 13.6 Application of Shariat laws
good, and some who plainly wrong themselves. in modern times
14. The Qur’an and Science
15. The purpose of mankind
We also see from the Qur’an that with Abraham some important landmarks of
15.1 At the individual level: nafs
‘Islam’ took place. He was instructed to build the House of Allah (Kaba) with his son 15.2 At the collective level: unfus
Ishmael, and to introduce the religious practices such as Prayer (Salat), Fasting, 15.3 The external world: af’aque
Pilgrimage (Hajj), and Zakat. In fact all our main religious practices originated with 15.4 Return to Allah
16 The Islamic State
Abraham. The belief in Allah alone, Who has no partner, remained the primary
17. Islam and human rights
condition of Faith, and the code of life (‘religion’ in the comprehensive sense) to be
18. Jewish scriptures and the
practised by mankind was given the name Islam.
Bible
19. Human evolution
The meaning of the word Islam is ‘submission’ and ‘peace’ – ‘submission’ in the 20. Conclusion
positive sense of committing oneself ‘to live in peace’ by bringing one’s likes and Appendices
dislikes and behaviour in harmony with the Divine Will. A Muslim is one who Bibliography
surrenders himself to Allah. Thus, the terms Islam and Muslim both originate from the Book reviews
very first contact of God with Man, and pre-date Muhammad by many centuries.
MOON S IGHT ING AND OTH ER
DISCU S SIO NS
(3:19) With Allah the Deen is Al-Islam[…]
Introduction
(3:67) Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man
who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters.

(2:130,131) And who forsaketh the religion of Abraham save him who befooleth
himself? Verily, We chose him in the world and lo! in the Hereafter he is among

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the righteous. When his Sustainer said unto him: Surrender! he said I have
surrendered to the Sustainer of the Worlds.

(22:78) And strive for Allah with the endeavour which is His right. He hath
chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion [this code of life] any
hardship; the faith of your father Abraham (is yours). He hath named you
Muslims (those who have surrendered) of old time and in this (Scripture), that
the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be a witness
against Mankind. So establish worship, and invest in Zakat, and hold fast to
Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper!

It should be borne in mind that the traditional use of the terms ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslim’ for
the followers of the Prophet Muhammad is a contradiction with the Qur’an. Both
these terms are universal in connotation and are meant for the whole of Mankind
through all the ages of the history. Thus according to the Qur’an, Allah’s reward is not
reserved for any particular group or ‘denomination’ but is open to anyone who
consciously accepts the oneness of Allah, surrenders himself to his Will, and by living
righteously gives practical effect to this attitude.

(2:62) Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee Muhammad) and
those who are Jews, and Christians and Sabians — whoever believeth in Allah
and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – their reward is with their Sustainer,
and there shall no fear come upon them and neither shall they grieve

The Sabians are a monotheistic religious group which to this day can be found in
Iraq.

(2:111,112) And they say: None entereth Paradise unless he be a Jew or a

Christian. These are their own desires. Say: bring your proof (of what you state)
if ye are truthful. Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while
doing good, his reward is with his Sustainer; and there shall no fear come upon
them, neither shall they grieve.

Islam, therefore, is a continuation of original code of life (deen) as established by the

first prophet. All succeeding prophets preached the same code of life (deen). From
Abraham came a long line of prophets through his two sons, Ishmael (Ishmael) and
Isaac (Ishaq). Ishmael was the progenitor of the Arab peoples and Muhammad was
among his descendants. From Isaac came a number of prophets, including his son
Jacob (Yakub), his grandson Joseph (Yusuf), Moses (Musa), David (Dawud),
Solomon (Sulaiman), John the Baptist (Yahya) and Jesus (Isa).

(2:132-134) The same did Abraham enjoin upon his sons and also Jacob,
(saying): O my sons! Lo! Allah hath chosen for you the (true) religion [this code
of life]; therefore die not save as men who have surrendered (unto Him). Or
were ye present when death came to Jacob, when he said to his sons: What
will ye worship after me? They said: We will worship thy God, the God of thy
fathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, One God, and unto Him we have
surrendered. Those are a people who have passed away. Theirs is that which

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they earned, and yours is that which ye earn. And ye will not be asked of what
they used to do.

(2:136) Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us
and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob,
and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the
prophets received from their Sustainer. We make no distinction between
them, and unto Him we have surrendered.

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