Islam teaches us to bow to Allah (swt) our Creator and this is exactly what Prophet Abraham (pbuh) did as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
Behold! His Lord said to him: “Bow (thy will to Me):” He said: “I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the Universe.” 2:131.
Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah’s (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah. 3.67.
This was the legacy that he left with his sons as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; “Oh my sons! Allah hath chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam.” 2:132.
And the legacy of his son Jacob was passed on to his sons as well.
Were ye witnesses when death appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: “What will ye worship after me?” They said: “We shall worship Thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma’il and Isaac, – the one (True) Allah: To Him we bow (in Islam).” 2:133
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was given the honor of leadership of the whole world, Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: “I will make thee an Imam to the Nations.” He pleaded: “And also (Imams) from my offspring!” He answered: “But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.” 2:124
He also pleaded for peace in his city as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
And remember Abraham said: “My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its people with fruits,-such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” He said: “(Yea), and such as reject Faith,-for a while will I grant them their pleasure, but will soon drive them to the torment of Fire, – an evil destination (indeed)!” 2:126.
Also He and his sons were given the honor by Allah (swt) to put down the foundation of the beautiful house of Allah (swt).
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. 2:127.
And right after they raised their hands in humble supplication seeking blessings and guidance’s as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
“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 place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. 2:128.
The house of Allah (swt) is the Holy Ka’ba, this was the foundation of mankind which Allah (swt) wanted for peace and unity among His servants when He ordered people to attend there as one brotherhood of love and unity as seen in Chapter 2 verse 196-198 of the Holy Qur’an. Allah (swt) wants us to live with peace, love and unity, when this was revealed; the city of Mecca was in the hands of the enemies of Islam. Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
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 Abraham and Isma’il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). 2:125.
The father of Abraham (pbuh) was one among the enemies of Islam. Abraham said to his father who used to worship idols. Al-Qur’an states:
Behold! He said to his father and to his people, “What is that which ye worship? 37:85.”Is it a falsehood- gods other than Allah- that ye desire? 37:86.
“Then what is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?” 37:87,
Then did he turn to their gods and said, “will ye not eat (of the offerings before you)? 37:91.
He said: “Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved? 37:95.”But Allah has created you and your handwork!” 37:96.
Abraham (pbuh) struck the idols his father and the people used to worship with his right hand, and he shattered them one by one, as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
Then did he turn upon them, striking (them) with the right hand. 37:93
This resort to violence, his father and his people planned to throw Abraham (pbuh) into a blazing furnace, as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
They said, “Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!” 037:097
So their evil plot against the righteous Prophet of Allah (swt) failed when Allah (swt) made the fire cool for His Beloved Prophet Abraham (pbuh).
They said, “Burn him and protect your gods, If ye do (anything at all)!” 21:68. We said, “O Fire! be thou cool, and (a means of) safety for Abraham!” 21:69. Then they sought a stratagem against him: but We made them the ones that lost most! 21:70
However difficult or impossible the mission of the Prophets (pbut) may have appeared to them or to the world at first, they came through eventually even those who seemed to have been defeated.
Allah Almighty was merciful to them and their followers, for He did protect them from the punishment that overtook the sinners. All of the Apostle’s missions were strengthened and they were prosperous through their humble supplications, repentance and patience. Chastity was the virtue of Mary, the mother of Jesus (pbuh), with a son of virgin birth. She and her blessed son Jesus (pbuh) became a miracle to all nations. Let us put fear into our hearts and try our best to live with love and unity amongst each other, in the sight of Allah (swt) we are all one, there will be no question of race. The world as we know it will be folded up like a scroll of parchment and Allah (swt) will create an entirely new world. Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it. 21:104.
Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth.” 21:105,
Verily in this (Qur’an) is a Message for people who would (truly) worship Allah. 21:106
On the day of judgment each soul will have to answer for its own deeds, we will not be questioned about “what we used to do”, since our record will be with us as is noted in the Al-Qur’an:
Lost indeed are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet Allah,- until on a sudden the hour is on them, and they say: “Ah! woe unto us that we took no thought of it”; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear? 6:31.
Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence). 36:12
The people used to say things like becoming Jews or Christians is the only way to salvation. It is mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
They say: “Become Jews or Christians if ye would be guided (To salvation).” Say thou: “Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True and he joined not gods with Allah.” 2:135
But the believers say to the people who were ignorant that they believe in Allah (swt) and the revelation given to them by the Apostles and Prophets, as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
Say ye: “We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (in Islam).” 2:136
The ignorant people continued to argue that Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac and Jacob were Jews or Christians, but Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
Or do ye say that Abraham, Isma’il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know better than Allah? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from Allah? but Allah is not unmindful of what ye do! 2:140
The men of old without faith believe not in Allah (swt) and in His Blessed Apostles and Prophets. Their arrogance claimed that all wisdom and all knowledge of God were enclosed in their hearts. Their claim was blasphemy, it is mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride? – Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay! 2:87.
They say, “Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word: we need no more).” Nay, Allah’s curse is on them for their blasphemy: Little is it they believe. 2:88
The curse of Allah (swt) is on those without faith as stated in Chapter 2: 89 of Al-Qur’an. Misery is the price for those who deny Allah (swt) as stated in Chapter 2:90 of Al-Qur’an, for when Allah’s punishment comes there can be no turning back.
Allah (swt) created man with virtues and purity. He gave us intelligence. He surrounded us with all types of instruments of His grace and mercy. In spite of all this if we distort our own will by going against Allah’s (swt) will, yet his door of forgiveness is always open to us, if we make ourselves humble enough to accept our mistakes and seek His forgiveness.
Our beloved parents Hazrat Adam and Eve (pbut) were not too proud to seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness as mentioned in Al-Qur’an:
They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.” 7:23.
They were innocent in both spiritual and material matters. They did not know anything about evil, but the faculty of choice which was given to them which raised them above the Angels and with their own free will they rejected the Shaitan’s sway, but sadly they got trapped by his evil influences when he lied to them, and so they fell. Almighty Allah says in Al-Qur’an: And he swore to them both, that he was their sincere adviser. 7:21.
They were exiled to earth and so was the Shaitan. (Allah swt) said:
“Get ye down. With enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood,- for a time.” 7:24.
One very important point to be observe from the above verse is: The word enmity which means hostile and due to this word, we all are bound to get corrupt either by the Shaitan whispering or by our own free will, poor judgment in our conduct in this life. As seen in the beginning of the hostile between our two spiritual brothers, Cain and Abel. The struggle started when Shaitan went after Cain and Abel to plant bitterness in Cain’s heart for his brother (Abel), which eventually ended up in Abel’s unfortunate death. The Holy Qur’an states:
On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land. 5:32.
The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter; 5:33.
Two important points also to be observed are: 1. People who are God–fearing (like Abel) do not go against Allah’s (swt) commandment by killing people, or being arrogant. 2. Even when they are being attacked they tried to hold on to the rope of faith and patience and they even tried to speak words of wisdom as seen in Chapter 5 verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an where Abel tried to speak words of wisdom to his brother Cain. Cain was filled with pride and jealousy. He ruined himself by committing the murder of his innocent brother. Abel’s speech was full of meaning, but was totally ignored by Cain. How sad was the struggle (jihad) of our spiritual parent’s (Adam and Eve’s) struggle, which lost their very precious son due to envy in Cain’s heart for Abel.
Cain was intoxicated with the Shaitan’s formula of jealousy and hatred so much that he murdered his own brother. Let us pause here for a second and think about how important it is to accept our faults, and seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness. If our spiritual parents Adam and Eve (pbut) were arrogant like the Shaitan then we all would have been in total darkness, living in corruption and misery like wild animals. This state of being is similar to how those people who were unbelievers lived during those olden days before Allah (swt) decided to send Apostles and Prophets to teach people how to live like human beings. These Apostles and Prophets sprang from our father Adam (pbuh) and so did the people who were their enemies. Shaitan boasted that he will seduce mankind and he will corrupt them in their nature with a brand that will mark them as his own people or that there will be a portion of them assigned to him. Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
Allah did curse him, but he said: “I will take of Thy servants a portion Marked off; 4:118.
“I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah.” Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes Satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. 4:119.
Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires; but Satan’s promises are nothing but deception. 4:120
Satan’s deceptions are false desires, superstitions, and fear. Everything about the Shaitan is false and useless. His lies and deceit stripped our parents (Adam and Eve) of their honor and innocence. Through their humble supplication they were blessed with the wisdom to know that that there is no value in suffering exile, if not for the cause of Allah’s (swt) pleasure, and the virtues that one can receive in their struggle of reaching their goal of entering the blessed kingdom of Allah (swt)
Allah’s (swt) truth will manifest itself against all odds, every soldier in the army of truth and justice will be victorious and they will be entitled to claim their share in Allah (swt) blessed kingdom. As Allah (swt) says in Al-Qur’an:
Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from every gate (with the salutation): 13:23. “Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!” 13:24.
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