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Prophet Ibrahim




Islam regards many of the Old Testament "Patriarchs" as Prophets of God, and hence as Muslims. Ibrahim is regarded as neither Jew nor Christian but a Hanif (follower of the right path).


COMMEMORATION OF IBRAHIM

The faith of Ibrahim is called , the Hajj , which is a pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque. The principle aspect of the Hajj is remembering Ibrahim's sacrifice of Ismail (Ibrahim's firstborn son) and his path to the altar where Iblees (Satan) attempted to dissuade him three times. Those places where Satan appeared are marked with three symbolic stones where pilgrims throw stones. Moreover a part of the Hajj is a commemoration of the sacrifice and efforts of the wife of Ibrahim Hajre, Hagar , to find water for her son Ismail, when he was near dead with thirst. She ran between the two hills, Safa and Marwa, seven times and this ritual, Saaee (means effort/struggle in arabic) is mandatory for all pilgrims to Mecca. During her quest for water she saw that a spring of fresh water had erupted near where her son Ismail lay. That spring became the basis of founding the city of Mecca, since fresh water was scarce in that barren land, and many tribes settled around there. This spring has been running for thousands of years. Ibrahim settled his wife and son in the valley of Mecca by God's order, to pioneer a civilization. It was from this civilization that the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad , was later born.

In some traditions, Muslims have a specific '' Dua '' that they recite daily, asking God to bless both Ibrahim and Muhammad . Islamic prayer, Salat , that occurs five times a day, also includes many parts that ask God for his blessings upon Ibrahim; the most in the prayer. According to Islamic tradition, Ibrahim is buried in Hebron . In the Masjid Al Haram in Mecca , there is an area known as the "station of Ibrahim" (''Maqam Ibrahim'' مقام), which bears an impression of his footprints.


IBRAHIM IN THE QUR'AN

There are numerous references to Ibrahim in the Qur'an. According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim is the spritual father of all the believers. He is mentioned as an upright person who was neither a polytheist nor a Christian or a Jew ( Qur'an 3 :67). An example is like the one below:


''O ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may prosper And strive for Allah with the endeavor which is His right. He hath chosen you and hath not laid upon you in religion any hardship; the faith of your father Ibrahim (is yours). He hath named you Muslims of old time and in this (Scripture), that the messenger may be a witness against you, and that ye may be witnesses against mankind. So establish worship, pay the poor due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper.'' ( Qur'an 22 :78)


According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim reached the conclusion that anything subject to disappearance could not be worthy of worship, and thus became a ) records many more details of his life, which are commonly referred to in Islamic accounts.


THE SACRIFICE

Traditionally, Muslims believe that it was in Islam) is also considered a prophet in Islam.

It is believed that Ibrahim's dream was a test from God. And when Ibrahim told his dream to Ismail, it was Ismail who convinced Ibrahim to fulfill God's order. So this was test for both Ibrahim, whom had longed for a son for such a long time, and for Ismail. When the devil teased them before the sacrifice, Ibrahim and Ismail threw stones at the devil. This reincarnated as jumrah, one of the rites undertaken by Muslims making the Hajj (pilgrimage). The entire episode of the sacrifice is regarded as a trial that Ibrahim had to face from God. It is celebrated by Muslims on the day of Eid Ul-Adha .


REFERENCES IN THE QUR'AN