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Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) belongs to the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran. He is also among the five prophets of Ulul’azm. These five prophets of Allah are Noah [Nuh (A.S.)],Ibrahim (A.S.), Musa (A.S.), Esa (A.S.) and Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.)may peace & blessings be upon them.
Ibrahim (A.S.) is mentioned by name 69 times in Quran.
There are different narrations, by different Islamic Scholars, about the age of Ibrahim (A.S.). Some say that he lived for 169 years, some say he lived on earth for 175 years and some says that Ibrahim’s (A.S.) age was 195 years. However, all narrations suggest that Ibrahim (A.S.) lived form more than 150 years on earth.
Prophet Ibrahim(pbuh) is a prophet who is tested by Allah and despite severe trials and challenges, he kept his promise and always showed a respectable attitude. As Allah says in Al-Quran:
“And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (what Allah ordered him to do or convey)” (Surah An-Najam: 53:37)
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) was the son of Aazar ibn Nahur, ibn Sarough, ibn Raghu, ibn Phaligh, ibn Aher, ibn Shalih, ibn Arfghshand, ibn Sam, ibn Nuh (A.S.). Ibrahim (A.S.) was born in the ancient city of Ur of the Chaldea, also known as Babylonia or Babylon (currently located in Iraq). He was born in a house of idolaters and his father was a well-known idol sculptor. As a young child, Ibrahim (A.S.) used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. At that time some people worshipped idols of stone and wood, others worshipped the planets, stars, sun, moon and some other worshipped their kings and rulers. Allah has gifted Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) with spiritual understanding and gave him wisdom from an early age. Allah says in Al-Quran:
“Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibraham his (portion of) guidance, and We Were Well Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah etc)” (Surah Anbiya: 21:51)
During his early childhood, Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) realized that his father made strange statues. One day, he asked about his father's creation then his father told him that these were the statues of the gods. Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) was astonished and he spontaneously rejected the idea. Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) noticed that the statues, which were made by his father, did not eat and drink and were unable to speak, even if somebody overturned it unable to rise and stand as it was. How do humans imagine that these statues can bring harm and benefit to them?
Prophet Ibrahim's (pbuh) people had a big temple full of idols. The largest statues were placed in the middle of the temple.Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh), who used to go to the temple with his father when he was a child, greatly despised all these idols made of wood and stone. What surprised him was the way his people behaved when they entered the place of worship, they showed submission and honor in front of the statues. They even cried and begged for various things as if the statues heard what they complained and talked about. Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) did his best to make his people heedful to the belief in the oneness of Allah and to worship of Him alone. When he said to his father and his people:
“What are these statues to which you are devoted?" They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them." He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error." They said: "Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about?" He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.” [Surah Fussilat (41:52 to 56)]
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) reasoning helped to reveal the truth, and it started the struggle between him and his people, including the one who most opposed him and was angry at his attitude was his father and his uncle, who raised him.The father said to his son." O Ibrahim, you have betrayed me and have been dishonorable to me.”
Prophet Ibrahim(pbuh) replied, as mention in Al-Quran When he said to his father
"O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all? O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me, I will show you a straight path. O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed, Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient. O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire].” [Surah Maryam (19: 42 to 45)]
Prophet Ibrahim’s (pbuh) father immediately rose and he blow his anger on him. As mention in Al-Quran:He (the father) said:
"Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you.” (Surah Maryam 19:46)
Being a wise son and a noble Prophet, Ibrahim (A.S.) did not make his father feel foolish, nor did he argued disrespectfully with his father. He had a dialogue with his father by using the prophet’s ethics. When he heard the harsh words and, he said gently:
"Peace be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me and i will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy." (Surah maryam 19:42 - 45)
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh), once again, tried to convince his people by telling them about the beauty of Allah's creations, His power, Wisdom and Oneness of Allah. However, the people would not give up but clung fast to idolatry. Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) decide to do something about their state of disbelief, but did not reveal it. He knew that there was going to be a great celebration on the other bank of the river which would be attended by all the people. Ibrahim (pbuh) waited until the city was empty, then he came out cautiously, directing his steps towards the temple. The streets leading to it were empty and the temple itself was deserted as the priests had also gone to the festival outside the city. He went there carrying a sharp axe and looked at the stone, wood statues of the gods and at the food laid in front of them as offerings. Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) asked all the statues around him:
"Will you not eat of the offering before you? "What is the matter with you that you do not speak?” [Surah As-Saffat: (37:92 and 93)]
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) immediately raised the axe in his hand and began to destroy the false gods that were worshiped by people.Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) destroyed them all except the biggest one. He hung the axe on its shoulder as this statue had destroyed the other statues. After destroying the false gods, he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah
When the people returned, they shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They start to think who is the cause of all this. At last they knew and realized that this was the Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) who had invited them to worship Allah. As mention in Al-Quran:
They protested, “Who dared do this to our gods? It must be an evildoer! Some said, “We heard a young man, called Abraham, speaking ˹ill˺ of them.” They demanded, “Bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may witness ˹his trial˺.” [Surah Al Anbya: (21:59, 60 and 61)]
They immediately asked for Prophet Ibrahim’s (pbuh) presence. When Prophet came to them they asked him:
They asked, “Was it you who did this to our gods, O Abraham?” He replied ˹sarcastically˺, “No, this one—the biggest of them—did it! So ask them, if they can talk!” So they came back to their senses, saying ˹to one another˺, “You yourselves are truly the wrongdoers!” [Surah Al Anbya: (21:62, 63 and 64)]
Then they ˹quickly˺ regressed to their ˹original˺ mind-set, ˹arguing,˺ “You already know that those ˹idols˺ cannot talk.” He rebuked ˹them˺, “Do you then worship—instead of Allah—what can neither benefit nor harm you in any way? Shame on you and whatever you worship instead of Allah! Do you not have any sense?” [Surah Al Anbya: (21:65, 66 and 67)]
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) was able to subdue them with logical arguments. However, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their foolishness. All they could do was to use their power of authority, as tyrants usually do, to punish Ibrahim (A.S.). They kept him in chains and planned their revenge.
The Quran does not tell us about the age of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) when he destroyed the idols of his people. However, it is confirmed that the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) was still young when he destroyed the idols (The same is evident from Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:60 when people said “We heard a young man talking against them who is called Ibrahim.”)
Idolaters do not want people to worship other than idols. They decided to throw Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) into the biggest fire they could build with the intent of burning him alive. All the disbelievers were ordered to gather wood for fire as a service to their gods. For several days they collected the firewood. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which they will cast Ibrahim (A.S.) into the fire.
They tied Ibrahim’s (A.S.) hands and feet with ropes and put him on the catapult. The fire was ready and its flames were reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Ibrahim (A.S.) into the fire. The angel Gabriel (A.S.) came near Ibrahim's (A.S.) head and asked him: "O Abraham do you wish for anything?" Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: "Nothing from you." The catapult was shot and Prophet Ibraham(pbuh) was cast into the fire. But his descent into the blaze was as descent on steps in a cool garden. The flames were still there, but they did not burn Ibrahim (A.S.) as Allah issued His command:
O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibraham." (Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:69)
The fire was subject to the command of Allah until it became cold and brought salvation to Ibrahim (A.S.). The fire only burned ropes that bind Ibrahim (A.S.). He was calm in the middle of the fire as if he were sitting in the middle of the garden. He praised Allah and glorified Him. What is in his heart is only love to the Beloved, i,e Allah.
Ibrahim’s (A.S.) heart was not filled with fear or regret or lamentation. The only thing in his heart was just love for Allah. The fire was peaceful and cold. Indeed, those who love Allah will not feel frightened.
The people, the chiefs, and the priests were watching the fire from a distance as this huge fire was burning their faces and nearly suffocated them. It kept burning for such a long time that the disbelievers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they were greatly amazed to find Ibrahim (A.S.) coming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but Ibrahim (A.S.) face was bright with the light and grace of Allah. The raging fire had become cool for Ibrahim (A.S.) and had only charred the ropes which held him. He walked out of the fire as if he was walking out of a garden. The unbelievers shouted in astonishment as they felt defeated by Ibrahim (A.S.). Allah says in Al-Quran:
“And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.” (Surah Al-Anbiya: 21:70)
This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However, after this event, many of the people believed Ibrahim’s (A.S.) preaching of Oneness of Allah, although they kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers/people.
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) had established a definite reasoning against idolaters. Nothing was left to prove for him except to reason against the rulers who proclaimed themselves gods.
The Quran discusses a certain conversation between an unrighteous ruler and Ibrahim (A.S.). Although in the narration of Quran, name of the king/ruler has not been revealed, many historical sources suggest that it was Nimrod or Namrud.
Nimrod became extremely arrogant due to his wealth and power, to the point that he made the claim that he possessed the power of creation and claimed divinity for himself. Namrud proclaimed himself as a living god and was worshipped as such by his subjects. Namrud, King of Babylon, felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power because upon witnessing Ibrahim (A.S.) coming out of the fire unharmed, majority of his people started believing in Allah and Ibrahim (A.S.) being a true prophet of Allah.
Namrud wanted to debate with Ibrahim (A.S.) and show his people that he, the king, is indeed the god and that Ibrahim (A.S.) was a liar. He feared that the status of godhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. In order to safeguard his interests, he summoned Ibrahim (A.S.) to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah has narrated in Al-Quran.
Have you not thought about him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord (Allah) because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said to him: "My Lord (Allah) is He Who gives life and causes death." He said: "I give life and cause death." Abraham said: "Verily, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. Allah guides not the people who are Zalimeen (wrongdoers etc). (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:258)
As mentioned above, Allah deliberately does not mention the name of the king as it is considered unimportant. The Quran also does not mention the long dialogue between Ibrahim (A.S.) and the king.
Perhaps the king said to Ibrahim (A.S.): "I hear that you invite men to worship the new God and to abandon the old god." Ibrahim (A.S.) said: "There is no god except Allah, the One." The king, who is proud and arrogant, said: "What does your god do I cannot do?" Ibrahim (A.S.) said gently: "My Lord is the one who can bring life and death." The king arrogantly replied: "I give life and cause death." The Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) did not ask how the king gave life and death as he knew that the king was lying. Ibrahim (A.S.) said: "Verily, Allah is able to bring the sun from the east, can you bring it from the west?"King did not know what to say and what to do.
After Namrud was silenced by Ibrahim (A.S.), he (Ibrahim) left the royal palace. Then the truth of the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) spread throughout the land. Humans start talking about his miracle and his salvation from the fire and his arguments with king that made the king speechless
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a great effort to guide his people to the right path. He tried every possible means to convince them. However in spite of his love and care for the people, they did not listened to him and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in Allah.
The woman was named Sarah who later became his wife while the man was Lut who later became a prophet after him. When Ibrahim (A.S.) realized that no one else was going to believe in his call, he decided to migrate. Ibrahim (A.S.) left his father, people and country then started his journey with his wife and Lut to a city called Ur, then to a place called Haran, and then to Palestine. After going to Palestine, Ibrahim (A.S.) went to Egypt. During this journey Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) invited people to worship Allah, show them the right path and helped the poor.
The King of Egypt tried to harm Sarah. He tried to hold her hand but his hand got stiff. The king told her (Sarah) , “Supplicate God that my hand will be released and I shall not harm you.” Sarah did, and the king’s hand was cured. Because of his ill manners, the king attempted once again to reach for Sarah, and his hand froze, but in a stronger manner than the first time.The king told Sarah the same thing as the first time. She made supplication and his hand was cured,finally the king realized that Sarah was not an ordinary woman. Before she(Sarah) left, the king gifted Hajarah to go with Sarah as her slave.
Sarah knew that her husband, Ibrahim (A.S.), was longing for a child. As Allah has mentioned Ibrahim’s (A.S.) dua in Quran:
"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" (Surah Al Saffat 37:100)
She also knew that she was getting old and may not be able to provide Ibrahim (A.S.) with a child. She suggested to Ibrahim (A.S.) that he should marry her servant Hajarah and maybe Allah would bless them with a child through her. Ibrahim (A.S.) accepted the advice of his beloved wife Sarah and married Hajarah. It wasn’t long before Ibrahim (A.S.) and Hajarah were blessed with a baby boy whom they named Ismael/Ismail.
Ibrahim (A.S.) was overjoyed with happiness at the birth of his first son. They all celebrated and thanked Allah for such a great and beautiful blessing. Some scholars say that Ibrahim (A.S.) was 86 years old at the time of Ismail’s birth
In a few days Ibrahim (A.S.) started out a journey with his wife Hajar and their son Ismail (A.S.). Ibrahim (A.S.) walked through cultivated land, desert and mountains until he reached the desert of the Arabian Peninsula and came to an uncultivated valley having no fruit, no trees, no food, no water. After Ibrahim (A.S.) had helped his wife and child to dismount, he left them with a small amount of food and water which was hardly enough for 2 days. He turned around and walked away.
Hajar hurried after him asking: "Where are you going Ibrahim, leaving us in this barren valley?"Ibrahim (A.S.) did not answer her but continued walking. She repeated what she had said, but he remained silent. Finally, she realized that Allah Had Commanded him to do this.She asked him: "Did Allah command you to do so?"
Ibrahim (A.S.) replied: "Yes." Then his great wife said: "We are not going to be lost since Allah Who Has Commanded you is with us." Ibrahim (A.S.) continued his walk. On reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, Ibrahim (A.S.) faced the Kabaa and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayers:
"O Our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Kaba at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may offer prayers perfectly (Salah) so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and O Allah provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks. O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah." (Surah Ibrahim 14:37-38)
During those days, there was nobody in Makkah nor was there any water. Ismail’s (A.S.) mother went on suckling Ismail (A.S.) and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water skin had been used up, she became thirsty and Ismail (A.S.) also became thirsty. She started looking at her son, tossing in agony. She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of As-Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody.
Then she descended for As-Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble till she crossed the valley and reached the mountain of Al-Marwa. There she stood and started looking expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that running between Safa and Marwa seven times.
The Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) said:
"This is the source of the tradition of the Sa'y (one of rituals of the Hajj pilgrimage) the going of people between them (As-Safa and Al-Marwa). When she reached Al-Marwa (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said:
"O whoever you maybe! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?"
And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam-zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing) till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water skin with water with her hands and the water was flowing out water she had scooped some of it."
The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) added:
"May Allah bestow mercy on Ismail’s (A.S.) mother! Had she let the Zam-zam flow without trying to control it, or had she not scooped from that water to fill her water skin, Zam-zam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth." (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 3362 and 3363)
Prophet Ismail (A.S.) (also referred as Prophet Ismael) is the figure known in Judaism, Christianity and Islam as Abraham's (A.S.) son, born to Hagar (Hajar or Hajarah). Ismail (A.S.) is regarded as a Prophet and an ancestor to the last Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.). He also became associated with Makkah and the construction of the Kaaba/Qibla.
The House (Kabaa) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left. She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child as they (the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada. They landed in the lower part of Makkah where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. They said:
"This bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley."
They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water and returned to inform them of the water. So they all came towards the water. Ismail’s (A.S.) mother was sitting near the water. They asked her:
"Do you allow us to stay with you?"
She replied: "Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water."
They agreed to that. Ismail’s (A.S.) mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people, so they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (Ismail) grew up and learned Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up and when he reached the age of puberty, they made him marry a woman from amongst them.
The Prophet (S.A.W.) continued:
"After Prophet Ishmael's mother had died, Ibrahim (A.S.) came after Ismail’s (A.S.) marriage in order to see his family that he had left before but he did not find Ismail (A.S.) there. When he asked Ismail’s (A.S.) wife about him,she replied: "He has gone in search of livelihood."
Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition
she replied: "We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution."
Ibrahim (A.S.) said: "When your husband returns, convey my salutations to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house)."
When Ismail (A.S.) came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife:"Has anyone visited you?"
She replied: "Yes, an old man of such and such description came and asked me about you and I informed him and he asked about our state of living and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty."
Ismail (A.S.) said: "It was my father and he has ordered me to leave you. Go back to your family." (This shows that Prophet Ismael's (pbuh) first wife was not thankful to Allah in the situation she lived) So, Ismail (A.S.) left her and married another woman from among them (Jurhum).
Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) continued:
“Then Ibrahim (A.S.) stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ismail (A.S.). So he came to Ismail’s (A.S.) wife and asked her about Ismail (A.S.).
She said: “He (Ismail) has gone in search of our livelihood.
Ibrahim (A.S.) asked her: “How are you getting on?' asking her about their sustenance and living.
She replied: “We are prosperous and well off (we have everything in abundance).” Then she thanked Allah.
Ibrahim (A.S.) said: “What kind of food do you eat?”
She said: “meat.”
Ibrahim (A.S.) said: “what do you drink?'
She said: “water.”
He said: “O Allah! bless their meat and water."
The Prophet (S.A.W.) added: "At that time they did not have grain and if they had grain he would have also invoked Allah to bless it. If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected unless he lives in Makkah."
The Prophet (S.A.W.) continued: "Then Ibrahim (A.S.) said to Ismail’s (A.S.) wife: “When your husband comes, give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.”
When Ismail (A.S.) came back, he asked his wife: “Did anyone call on you?”
She replied: “yes, a good looking old man came to me,” so she praised him and added: “He asked about you and I informed him that we were in a good condition.”
Ismail (A.S.) asked her:” Did he give you any piece of advice?
She said: “Yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.”
On that Ismail (A.S.) said: “He was my father, and you are the threshold of the gate. He has ordered me to keep you with me.”
Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) stayed away from them(family) for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them afterwards. He saw Ismail (A.S.) under a tree near Zam-Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Ibrahim (A.S.), he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father).
Ibrahim (A.S.) said:“O Ismail! Allah had give me an order.”
Ismail (A.S.) said:“Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.”
Ibrahim (A.S.) asked:“Will you help me?”
Ismail (A.S.) said:“I will help you.”
Ibrahim (A.S.) said:
“Allah has ordered me to build a house here,” pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.Then they raised the foundations of the House (the Kabaa). Ismail (A.S.) brought the stones while Ibrahim built and when the walls became high, Ismail (A.S.) brought this stone (Al-Maqam or Maqam-e-Ibrahim in Kabaa) and put it for Ibrahim who stood over it and carried on building. While Ismail (A.S.) was handing him the stones and both of them were saying: Our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 2:127)
The Prophet (S.A.W.) added:
"Then both of them went on building and going round the Kabaa saying: "O our Lord! Accept this service from us, verily, You are the All Hearer, the All Knower." Hadith (Sahih Al Bukhari: 3364).
History tells us that Kabaa was destroyed more than once so it was rebuilt several times. Kabaa remained standing since the time of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) to this day. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and the Prophet Ismail (A.S.) devoted a great deal of energy in building the Kabaa that thousands men could not match.
Allah does not tell us about the time of building the Kaaba and only tells things that are more important and more useful. He tells of the sanctity of the souls of those who built it [Ibrahim (A.S.) and Ismail (A.S.)] and their prayers when building it.
Hajar al-Aswad is a black stone that is engraved in the southeast wall of the Kabaa. There are different narrations that give a different account of the background of the stone and its placement in the wall of Kaaba. Regardless of the different narratives, the importance and respect of the stone remains the same and it enjoys the same level of sanctity and sacredness in all the narratives.
Out of the different narratives, the most significant and the most authentic one is the narrative of Hajar al-Aswad being a stone from Jannah (paradise) that was installed in Kabaa by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and his son Prophet Ismail.
According to the narration, when Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and his son completed the construction of Kabaa, they were a stone short in the building of the walls. Thus, upon this Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) ordered Ismail (A.S.) to go and look for a stone that could fit in the gap in order to complete the construction of the holy place.
Ismail (A.S.) went in search of the stone, but after a while when he could not find any suitable rock and came back to his father and saw that a rock was already placed in the empty space. He asked His father about the stone, Ibrahim (A.S.) replied that it was delivered to Him by Angel Garbriel (A.S.). Thus this narrative proves that Hajar al-Aswad is a heavenly stone.
Ibn Abbas (R.A.) narrated that Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) said: “The Black stone descended from paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blacked by this sins of the children of Adam.” (Tirmidhi: 877)
This Hadith proves that Hajar al-Aswad is a stone that came from Jannah and it was originally in pure white state, which then started, turning black with the progression in the increasing sins of humankind.
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It is said that Ibrahim (AS) experienced a dream one night, in which Allah (SWT) told him to sacrifice Ismail (AS), his beloved son.
Ibrahim (AS) loved his son, Ismail (AS). Yet he was fully prepared to follow Allah's (SWT) command and do as He instructed. He took his son to the top of Mount Arafat and brought with him a knife and rope. Upon reaching an appropriate place, he told his son about his dream and what Allah (SWT) had commanded him to do. Being an obedient son, Prophet Ismail (AS) immediately obliged to the wishes of Allah (SWT) and his father, and asked that his hands and legs be tied so that he may not struggle and that his father blindfold himself so that he does not have to witness him suffer.
Ibrahim (AS) did as Ismail (AS) had said. Blindfolded and with the knife in his hands, he did as Allah (SWT) had asked of him. When he took the blindfold off, to his surprise, he saw the body of a dead ram in front of him. Ismail (AS) was completely unharmed standing right next to him. At first, he thought that something had gone horribly wrong and that he had disobeyed the order of his Creator. But then he heard a voice telling him that Allah (SWT) looks after his followers and that he need not worry.
And he (Ibrahim) said after his rescue from the fire:
Verily! I am going to my Lord. He will guide me! My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous." So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what do you think!" "O my father! Do that which you are commanded Insha Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of the patient." Then when they had both submitted themselves to the Will of Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering and We called out to him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream (vision!" Verily! Thus do We reward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah's sake only. Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (a ram;) and We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times. "Salamun (peace) be upon Ibrahim!" Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsineen (good doers). Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (Surah Al Saffat 37: Ayat 99 to 111)
A divine miracle had taken place. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had just passed a difficult test from Allah (SWT)
Since then, every year, during the month of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the holy calendar, Muslims from around the world perform Qurbani to remember what Ibrahim (AS) did. We use his deed to inspire devotion, obedience, and submission in our own lives. Muslims sacrifice animals (preferably a goat, cow or camel) using special rules and practices, in memory of Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) sacrifice.
Therefore, Qurbani for Muslims is a lesson in obedience and submission. We must obey Allah's (SWT) command without pause. We must perform the tasks He has ordained compulsory on all Muslims such as praying Salat, paying Zakat and embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage. May Allah (SWT) enable us to perform the Sunna of Ibrahim year in and year out. Ameen. Due to the firm faith of both father and son, Isma'eel (AS) was replaced by a ram and his life was spared by Allah (SWT).
we must therefore, remember that Eid ul-Adha is not just a celebration, but the remembrance of one of the greatest sacrifices in history.
In the meantime, three angels descended to the earth; Gabriel, Israphael, and Michael (according to some scholars they were 3 angels and some say they were 4 angels who visited Prophet Ibrahim as it is not mentioned in quran, it is difficult to say exact number of angels visited our beloved prophet, Allah knows best )
They came in human shapes and saluted Ibrahim (A.S.). Ibrahim (A.S.) arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent thinking they were strangers and guests. He seated them and made sure that they were comfortable, then excused himself to go to his people. His wife Sarah arose when he entered. She had become old and white haired.
Ibrahim (A.S.) said to her: "We have three strangers in the house."
"Who are they?" she asked.
"I do not know any of them," he answered. What food have we got?" He asked.
“Half a sheep." she replied.
"Half a sheep! Slaughter a fat calf for them; they are strangers and guests," Ibrahim (A.S.) ordered while leaving.Abraham invited the angels to eat and he started eating so as to encourage them. He continued, but when he glanced at his guests to assure they were eating, he noticed that none of them had touched the food.
He said to the them: "Are you not going to eat?" He resumed eating, but when he glanced at them again he found that they were still not eating. Their hands did not reach out for the food. He began to fear them. Ibrahim’s (A.S.) fears increased. The angels, however, were reading his inner thoughts and one of them said:
"Do not fear." Abraham raised his head and replied: "Indeed I am in fear. I have asked you to eat food but you do not stretch out your hands to eat. Do you intend me evil?" One of the angels smiled and said: "We do not eat. We are Allah's angels."
One of them then turned towards his wife and conveyed the glad tidings about Isaac (Ishaaq).
Allah Has revealed in Quran:
Verily! There came Our Messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" he answered: "Salaam (greetings or peace)!" and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But, when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lot." And his wife was standing there and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaque (Isaac), and after him of Yaqub (Jacob). She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" They said: "Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family (of Abraham). Surely, He (Allah) is All praiseworthy, All-Glorious." (Surah Hud 11:69-73)
Allah gave Ismail (A.S.) the duty of prophethood. He gave him the duty of guiding the people of Amalika in Yemen. According to some sources, Ismail (A.S.) lived with this nation for fifty years and conveyed them the divine message and orders. Some of them believed in him but others insisted on unbelief and polytheism.
Allah Has stated in Quran about the prophethood of Ismail (A.S.):
“And mention in the Book (the Quran) Ismail (Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet. And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salat (the prayers) and the Zakat, and his Lord was pleased with him.” (SurahMaryam 19:54 and 55)
As it is understood from the statement of the Quran, Ismail (A.S.) acted in accordance with this principle of guidance. First, he himself practiced the religion; then, he made his relatives practice them; after that, he conveyed the message of the religion to his nation.
Ismail (A.S.) had a hundred and thirty, or a hundred and thirty-seven, years when he died. He is reported to have had twelve sons. According to some sources, Ismail (A.S.) lived in Makkah till his death. Ismail (A.S.), according to different sources, buried alongside his mother Hajar in near Kabaa in Masjid Al-Haram. Allah knows best.
Imam Ibn Katheer has reported that the Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) is buried in a village called Hebron, (Al Khaleel), Palestine, alongwith his son Ishaq (A.S.), his grandson Yaqoob (A.S.) and Yusuf (A.S.). The graves of all these prophets are located under Masjid-e-Khaleel, also called Masjid-e-Ibrahim.
