THE BEGINING
Four thousand years ago, in the Sumerian town of Ur in the valley of river Euphrates, The people of Ur used to worship Allah but started to worship idols as time passes.
Abraham/Ibrahim AS was then below ten years and could find no reason in how his father and people worshipped idols. He AS had always refused to join his people in worshipping these statues, and would always isolate himself and sit alone, thinking about the heavens and earth and what they contain, searching for the right guidance upon constant study of the environment.
One night, as observing the sky alone he saw a beautiful shining star, so beautiful that he cried out:
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ الَّيۡلُ رَاٰ كَوۡكَبًا ۚ قَالَ هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَ قَالَ لَاۤ اُحِبُّ الۡاٰفِلِيۡنَ
When the night covered him over, He saw a star: He said: "This is my Lord." But when it set, He said: "I love not those that set."
On another night, as Abraham was sitting alone, he saw the risen moon again so big and bright that he felt he could almost touch it. He said to himself:
فَلَمَّا رَاَالۡقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَ قَالَ لَٮِٕنۡ لَّمۡ يَهۡدِنِىۡ رَبِّىۡ لَاَ كُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡقَوۡمِ الضَّآ لِّيۡنَ
When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray."
On another occasion,
فَلَمَّا رَاَ الشَّمۡسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هٰذَا رَبِّىۡ هٰذَاۤ اَكۡبَرُۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَفَلَتۡ قَالَ يٰقَوۡمِ اِنِّىۡ بَرِىۡٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشۡرِكُوۡنَ
When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set, he said: "O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah.
اِنِّىۡ وَجَّهۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ لِلَّذِىۡ فَطَرَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَ حَنِيۡفًا وَّمَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِيۡنَۚ
"For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah."
QUR'AN 6:66-69
When he(Ibrahim AS) said unto his father and his folk:
اِذۡ قَالَ لِاَبِيۡهِ وَقَوۡمِهٖ مَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ
Behold, he said to his father and his people: "Why worship ye?"
قَالُوۡا نَـعۡبُدُ اَصۡنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عٰكِفِيۡنَ
They said: "We worship idols, and we remain constantly in attendance on them."
قَالَ هَلۡ يَسۡمَعُوۡنَكُمۡ اِذۡ تَدۡعُوۡنَۙ
He said: "Do they listen to you when ye call (on them)?"
اَوۡ يَنۡفَعُوۡنَكُمۡ اَوۡ يَضُرُّوۡنَ
"Or do you good or harm?"
قَالُوۡا بَلۡ وَجَدۡنَاۤ اٰبَآءَنَا كَذٰلِكَ يَفۡعَلُوۡنَ
They said: "Nay, but we found our fathers doing thus (what we do)."
قَالَ اَفَرَءَيۡتُمۡ مَّا كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَۙ
He said: "Do ye then see whom ye have been worshipping,-
اَنۡـتُمۡ وَاٰبَآؤُكُمُ الۡاَقۡدَمُوۡنَ
"Ye and your fathers before you?-
فَاِنَّهُمۡ عَدُوٌّ لِّىۡۤ اِلَّا رَبَّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ
"For they are enemies to me; not so the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds;
الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَنِىۡ فَهُوَ يَهۡدِيۡنِۙ
"Who created me, and it is He Who guides me;
وَالَّذِىۡ هُوَ يُطۡعِمُنِىۡ وَيَسۡقِيۡنِۙ
"Who gives me food and drink,
وَاِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِيۡنِ
"And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me;
وَالَّذِىۡ يُمِيۡتُنِىۡ ثُمَّ يُحۡيِيۡنِۙ
"Who will cause me to die, and then to life (again);
وَالَّذِىۡۤ اَطۡمَعُ اَنۡ يَّغۡفِرَ لِىۡ خَطِٓیْــَٔـتِىۡ يَوۡمَ الدِّيۡنِ
"And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the day of Judgment (Qur'an 26.70-83).
Abraham/Ibrahim AS could not bear idol worshiping any longer, so one day when the people went out, he angrily destroyed all the idols with his right hand and left only the large one, then he AS hanged the axe on the shoulder.
When the people returned. They suddenly recalled what Abraham had said about the idols. They summoned him before everyone and questioned him: 'O Abraham?' 'Are you responsible for the distraction of our gods?"
Abraham replied;" But this their chief did it, Ask it, if it will be able to speak.'
The people said, 'You are aware they are unable to speak.
Then Abraham said; قَالَ اَتَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مَا تَنۡحِتُوۡنَۙ
He said: "Worship ye that which ye have (yourselves) carved?
وَاللّٰهُ خَلَقَكُمۡ وَمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
"But Allah has created you and your handwork!" (Qur'an 37.95-6)
قَالَ اَفَتَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ مَا لَا يَنۡفَعُكُمۡ شَيۡـًٔـا وَّلَا يَضُرُّكُمۡؕ
(Abraham) said, "Do ye then worship, besides Allah, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm (Qur'an 21.66
Finally, Abraham warned them,
وَاِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ اِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ وَاتَّقُوۡهُ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡـتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ
And (We also saved) Abraham: behold, he said to his people, "Serve Allah and fear Him: that will be best for you- If ye understand!
اِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ اَوۡثَانًا وَّتَخۡلُقُوۡنَ اِفۡكًا ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُوۡنَ لَـكُمۡ رِزۡقًا فَابۡتَغُوۡا عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ الرِّزۡقَ وَاعۡبُدُوۡهُ وَاشۡكُرُوۡا لَهٗ ؕ اِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُوۡنَ
"For ye do worship idols besides Allah, and ye invent falsehood. The things that ye worship besides Allah have no power to give you sustenance: then seek ye sustenance from Allah, serve Him, and be grateful to Him: to Him will be your return. (Qur'an 29. 16-17)
The people of Ur decided to burn Abraham to death. On the chosen day, all the people including the King of Ur made themselves available at the center of the town. Abraham was then placed inside a special building filled with wood. Fire was set on this wood and soon the fire became so strong that no one could go near the flames. But Allah said:
قُلۡنَا يٰنَارُ كُوۡنِىۡ بَرۡدًا وَّسَلٰمًا عَلٰٓى اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَۙ
“O fire, be coolness and peace for Abraham”. (Qur'an 21.69)
The people watched till the fire completely died down, and it was then that they saw Abraham still sitting there like nothing had happened! At that moment they were confused. But still, they were not moved by this miracle and still persisted in their disbelieve.
He AS continued to advice his own dear father Aza to stop worshipping idols who are un-seeing, un-hearing, and powerless statues.
Abraham said;
يٰۤـاَبَتِ اِنِّىۡ قَدۡ جَآءَنِىۡ مِنَ الۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ يَاۡتِكَ فَاتَّبِعۡنِىۡۤ اَهۡدِكَ صِرَاطًا سَوِيًّا
"O my father! to me hath come knowledge which hath not reached thee: so follow me: I will guide thee to a way that is even and straight."
يٰۤـاَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ الشَّيۡطٰنَ ؕ اِنَّ الشَّيۡطٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمٰنِ عَصِيًّا
"O my father! serve not Satan: for Satan is a rebel against (Allah) Most Gracious."
يٰۤاَبَتِ اِنِّىۡۤ اَخَافُ اَنۡ يَّمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ الرَّحۡمٰنِ فَتَكُوۡنَ لِلشَّيۡطٰنِ وَلِيًّا
"O my father! I fear lest a Penalty afflict thee from (Allah) Most Gracious, so that thou become to Satan a friend."
قَالَ اَرَاغِبٌ اَنۡتَ عَنۡ اٰلِهَتِىۡ يٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُۚ لَٮِٕنۡ لَّمۡ تَنۡتَهِ لَاَرۡجُمَنَّكَ وَاهۡجُرۡنِىۡ مَلِيًّا
(The father) replied: "Dost thou hate my gods, O Abraham? If thou forbear not, I will indeed stone thee: Now get away from me for a good long while!"
قَالَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيۡكَۚ سَاَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَـكَ رَبِّىۡؕ اِنَّهٗ كَانَ بِىۡ حَفِيًّا
Abraham said: "Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious.
وَ اَعۡتَزِلُـكُمۡ وَمَا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَاَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّىۡ ۖ عَسٰٓى اَلَّاۤ اَكُوۡنَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّىۡ شَقِيًّا
"And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom ye invoke besides Allah: I will call on my Lord: perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I shall be not unblest." (Qur'an 19.43-8)
Abraham (Ibrahim Alayhi Salaam) had to leave his relatives, people, and town, which he loved so much, and travel. After a long and arduous journey, he arrived at a place by the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Egypt. There, he married a noble woman named Sarah and settled in the land of Palestine. Despite many years of marriage, they remained childless.
In the hope of having a child, and in keeping with tradition, Sarah suggested that Abraham marry Hagar, her Egyptian handmaid. Soon after their marriage, Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Later, Allah promised another son, who would be called Isaac (Ishaq). Allah also told Abraham that two nations would be created and three religions would be founded from the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac. Therefore, Abraham had to take Hagar and Ishmael away from Palestine to a new land.
The descendants of Ishmael would form a nation, from which a great Prophet would emerge, guiding people in the way of Allah. This Prophet was to be Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Messenger of Allah. From the descendants of Sarah's child, Isaac, would come Moses and Jesus.
ZAMZAM
Hagar (Hajar) and Ishmael left Palestine with Abraham. After many days of traveling along the caravan routes, they finally arrived at the arid valley of Bacca (Mecca). With only a small supply of water left and no trace of water around the valley, Abraham left them there, certain that Allah would take care of them.
Soon, their water finished, and Ishmael began to grow weak from thirst. They were close to two hills, Safa and Marwah. Hagar went to Safa, searching for water at a distance, but she didn't find any. Then, she went to the other hill, Marwah, and did the same. She repeated this process seven times.
Sadly, she returned to her son, but to her great surprise and joy, she found a spring of water bubbling out of the earth near his legs. She exclaimed, "Zamzam, Zamzam!" (Gather, gather), as she tried to gather the water alongside. This is how the spring came about.
Hagar and her son Ishmael settled around the spring (Zamzam), and the place was later called Zamzam. The area around it became a resting place for caravans traveling across the desert, and over time, it grew into the famous trading city of Mecca.
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.
رَبَّنَا وَاجۡعَلۡنَا مُسۡلِمَيۡنِ لَـكَ وَ مِنۡ ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ اُمَّةً مُّسۡلِمَةً لَّكَ وَاَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبۡ عَلَيۡنَا ۚ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيۡمُ
"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.
رَبَّنَا وَابۡعَثۡ فِيۡهِمۡ رَسُوۡلًا مِّنۡهُمۡ يَتۡلُوۡا عَلَيۡهِمۡ اٰيٰتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الۡكِتٰبَ وَالۡحِكۡمَةَ وَ يُزَكِّيۡهِمۡؕ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ
"Our Lord! send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in scripture and wisdom and sanctify them: For Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (Qur'an 2:127-129)
After completing the Ka'bah, Allah commanded Abraham to call mankind to pilgrimage to His Holy House. Abraham wondered how anyone could hear his call, given the vast distances and spread of humanity. Allah reassured him, saying, "You call, and I will bring them." And so, Abraham called out to the people, inviting them to pilgrimage. Miraculously, people from all over the world began to respond to his call, journeying to Mecca to worship Allah. This continues to this day, with millions of people embarking on the pilgrimage, known as Hajj, in response to Abraham's ancient call.
THE DESCENDANTS OF ISHMAIL FORGOT ALLAH
Years later, Ishmael's descendants multiplied and formed various tribes throughout Arabia. One of these tribes, the Quraish, remained in Mecca, caring for the Ka'bah and the pilgrims who came to visit. The leader of the Quraish had important responsibilities, including providing food and water for the pilgrims who traveled from all over Arabia. It was a great honor to serve them.
However, as time passed, the Arabs forgot Allah and stopped worshipping Him. They began bringing idols back from their travels and placed them at the Ka'bah. Although the Ka'bah was still respected, the Arabs' actions led to the well of Zamzam disappearing beneath the sand.
At that time, Qusay was the ruler of Quraish, and after his death, his son Abu Manaf became the leader of Quraish. Following Abu Manaf's death, Hashim took over as the ruler. Hashim was the first to establish the two great caravan journeys of Quraish, one in the summer to Syria and the north, and another in the winter to Yemen and the south. This made Mecca a wealthy and important center of trade.
On one of his summer journeys to Yathrib for trade, Hashim passed through Yemen and met Salma, a beautiful woman from a respected family, in the market. She was the daughter of 'Amr Ibn Zeid. Hashim married Salma, and years later, she gave birth to a handsome son with white hair, whom they called Shaybah, meaning "grey hair". Salma and her son remained in Yemen, while Hashim would visit them on his trading journeys to the north.
After a few years, Hashim passed away, and Shaybah, a intelligent and handsome young boy, grew up in his uncle's house in Yathrib. He took pride in being the son of Hashim Ibn 'Abu Manaf, the head of Quraish and guardian of the Ka'bah.
Years later, Al-Muttalib passed away, and Abd al-Muttalib, now grown, took over as the leader of Quraish. He served Quraish and the pilgrims with dedication and remained true to the religion of Abraham, unlike many others in Quraish.
As mentioned earlier, when the people of Quraish stopped worshiping Allah and placed idols in the Ka'bah, the well of Zamzam disappeared under the sand. As a result, people had to travel far to find water. One day, Abd al-Muttalib, exhausted from his search for water, fell asleep beside the Ka'bah. He had a dream in which Allah ordered him to dig up the well of Zamzam. Although Abd al-Muttalib didn't question the dream, he was unsure where to find Zamzam, as it had disappeared long before he was born. He had another dream, which revealed the location of Zamzam.
At the time, Abd al-Muttalib had only one son to help him dig the well. The work was arduous, and Abd al-Muttalib made a vow to Allah that if he was blessed with ten sons to support him, he would sacrifice one of them in Allah's honor. It took three days to complete the digging, and since then, the well of Zamzam has served Quraish and pilgrims well, benefiting people all over the world.
Despite his love for Abd Allah, Abd al-Muttalib prepared to sacrifice him near the Ka'bah. However, the people of Quraish and their leaders intervened, objecting to the sacrifice due to Abd Allah's youth and popularity. Seeking a solution, they consulted a wise woman from Yathrib, who advised them to draw lots between Abd Allah and ten camels. If Abd Allah was chosen, they would add ten more camels and draw lots again, repeating the process until the camels were chosen. The camels would then be sacrificed to Allah and distributed among the needy.
They accepted this solution and took Abd Allah and the camels to the Ka'bah. Starting with ten camels, Abd Allah was chosen each time until the number of camels reached 100. Finally, the camels were chosen instead of Abd Allah. They followed the wise woman's instructions, slaughtering the camels and sharing the meat among the poor. Abd al-Muttalib thanked Allah for His mercy.
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