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Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-rahim

On our journey through time, we are now reaching one of the key figures in the history of faith - nabi Ibrahim (as), known both as al-Hanif (worshipper of the Creator) and Khalilullah (friend of Allah)

The Tawrat reveals to us the full name of this nabi: Ibrahim ibn Tarah ibn Nahur ibn Sarug ibn Ra’u ibn Balagh ibn ‘Abir ibn Shalah ibn Arfakshad ibn Sam ibn Nuh (see Tawrat, Genesis 11).

This is the ancestral line linking bani Ibrahim (children of Abraham – the Arabs and the Jews) with Nuh (as) - the common ancestor of us all. As we already know, the descendants of Nuh (as) did not submit to the will of Allah and rebelled against Him, building a tower in Babylon, instead of spreading out to settle and cultivate the land as Allah told them to. This first Jahiliyyah (age of ignorance) lasted for all the generations listed in the above genealogy of Ibrahim (as). Yusha ibn Nun (Joshua) tells us about Ibrahim’s father Terah:

Tawrat, Yusha ibn Nun 24:2

Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods.

The Qur’an, using Tarah’s other name Azar, confirms this.

Al-Ana’am 6:74

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

When Ibrahim told his father, Azar, “Do you take idols for gods? I think you and your people are clearly led astray.”

The Qur’an reveals the intricacies of Allah’s revelation to the nabi and the nabi’s own search of Al-Khaliq (the Creator). Ibrahim’s effort to find the one to be worshipped in the double darkness of the night and the first Jahiliyyah is genuine and diligent. Still, it is hopeless, until Allah gives him words to speak to the idolaters.

Al-Ana’am 6:76-83

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَى كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَذَا رَبِّي هَذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ

When night covered him, he saw a planet. He said, “This is my Lord.” When it set, he said, “I do not like things that set.” When he saw the moon rising, he said, “This is my Lord.” When it set, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will be one of the people who have gone astray.” When he saw the sun rising, he said, “This is my Lord. It is bigger.” When it set, he said, “My people, I am innocent of the gods you worship. I have set my face to the creator of the heavens and the earth as a monotheist. I am not a polytheist.” His people disputed with him. He said, “Do you dispute with me about Allah, who has guided me? I do not fear the gods you worship instead of him, unless my Lord wills it. My Lord’s knowledge covers everything. Do you not remember? How should I fear the gods you worship? You do not fear worshiping gods other than Allah that he has not authorized for you. Which of the parties is more worthy of protection, if you know? Believers who do not cloak their faith with wickedness are secure and guided. This is the argument that we gave Ibrahim for his people. We raise in rank those we will. Your Lord is wise and all-knowing.

How would you describe the times we live in?

1. the Age of Enlightenment
2. the Age of Do-whatever-you-want
3. the third Jahiliyyah
4. something else