Our dear students:
The lesson today is about a great deed of our Master Ibrahim's (pth), and it is mentioned in the Holy Quran revealed from the Almighty God to be an immortal reminiscence for all humankind, these stories are not just ordinary tales or literary novels, but they are factual stories and true lessons by them evilness and falseness are destroyed and ended and the right is built and supported. Actually, all the stories in the Holy Quran have a moral lesson and everlasting benefit for the humans who seek and look for the truth.
Our Master Ibrahim (pth) grew up in a small town whose people worshiped idols, even his parents worshiped idols, but he was unlike them in their astray, he contemplated and thought about his creation (his body) and every sign around him, his contemplation led him to realize that idols couldn’t be creators or providers then why would he have worshiped and appealed to them for his desires?
I “our master Ibrahim” have to request of and appeal to the Almighty God, not to an idol made by human's hand, this idol couldn’t move from its place to another one, but it needs someone to move it...
His contemplation led him instantly to know that worshiping idols is a really foolish action…but alas it was a common thing among people, they inherited this worshiping and followed it from their grandfathers without any serious considering why would we not follow this wrong creed, even without any hint of right thinking about the bad results returned from this action!
On the other hand, our Master Ibrahim (pth) could through his thinking in the universe wonders (signs) be himself led to know the Almighty God and to witness that there is no god except Allah, which means that there is no controller and actuator in the universe except the Almighty God, after that he urged his people to attain this true belief through their thinking of the universal signs, as previously had done, out of his love and compassion towards them, therefore our Master Ibrahim (pth) asked them, criticizing their false creed of worshiping idols, hoping to activate their thinking through his question, the Almighty God says: {When he said to his father and his people: “what are these images, to which you are devoted?”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 52
The word (images) means the idols, these stones which had been sculptured as ancient people and represented their images.
The word (devoted) means: to worship and to plunge into loving it the most.
After questioning them they answered: {They said: “We found our fathers worshiping them”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 53
Accordingly, they acknowledged within their answer that they followed their father’s way without any concerning the falsity of it, they worshipped those idols as their fathers had done.
Actually, human shouldn’t follow anyone without thinking if the way he follows is true or false. The Almighty God has bestowed a great jewel on human which is thought, that human could distinguish and investigate to find the truth.
Thus, our Master Ibrahim (pth), when he thought about everything of God's signs and Creation, his thinking led him to the truth and to reject those idols.
He said (pth) to them: {He said: “Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error.”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 54
The word (error: straying from the right path) is the opposite of guiding, and the word (manifest) describe their error as an obvious and exposed one, therefore he (pth) told them that they were far away from the path of happiness and guidance, it was an obvious error as clear as the sun of the clear noon when you saw a man worshiped an idol! A stone which you sculptured by your own hands, how could it be a god!? Did this stone create the human ears, eyes, hands and legs!? Did it create him therein his mother womb then bring him out to this worldly life!?
It is necessary for human that they should contemplate the universe and think about the circulation of earth around itself where the day and the night are produced. How Grandeur is He the Almighty Who moves it in such circular movement, also human must contemplate how the rain comes down from the sky, the sun, the clouds, the winds, and how then this rain pours down through an organised way, isn’t there a steering controlling Hand behind all that?! Man must think about the existence of the water and the springs in the earth, Who has created and controlled them?! about these Vitamins and nutrients found in foods and fruits, each fruit contains a different kind of them! Surly there is a creating steering Hand which puts these different nutrients in each fruit. Who does stop the sap from reaching the ripe fruits? If it is not so, they (the fruits) will continue to grow more and more, for example the apple will be in a huge and in a great unacceptable size, How Great is He Who esteems everything in a very proper balance?
Is it the idol who created the human, putting his organs each one in a special site of his body and all of that in his mother's womb? Absolutely no, so Who is the Creator then?
When they heard that declaration: they said: {Have you brought us the truth, or are you one of those who play about}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 55
They found that his revelation was true, but they were people of malicious spirits and limited thinking, so they didn’t believe in him, the truthful Envoy, because they thought that he made joking or he cheated them through his high speech.
Therefore, he replied: {“Nay, your lord is the lord of the heavens and the earth, Who created them and of that I am one of the witnesses.”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 56
The Verse {Who created them} means who brings them into being in a complete discipline, take a look at the universe and contemplate it profoundly, doesn’t it have a steering One who creates it and supplies it with life? Who did create the universe in such an arrangement and in a great order?
Who does arrange the four seasons and the day and the night?
Haven't you contemplated why the Almighty God created and arranged everything in this universe, and why He sent you to this worldly life?
As for his words {I am one of the witnesses} he means that if you want to witness this Divine truth, I can show you it, if you question me about anything of these heavens and earth I will answer you, I reveal to you the truth if you want. But they repelled his supreme logical revelation and thought that he could be joking and cheating them with his new words which they never heard before. By the way, the one who doesn’t think profoundly is the one who scares everything.
Because they repelled his logic and high revelation he argued them, therefore he (pth) decided to urge their thoughts in a practical way and determined to smash their idols to make them realize that they (the idols) had absolutely no power nor strength, so he drew up an elaborated plan to smash their idols and did it in a proper time,
The Almighty God says {And by Allah, I shall plot a plan (to destroy) your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 57
The words {And by Allah} means that the whole Al'lah's steering and controlling of this universe is done within all His Supreme Names and whatever happens in the universe does not happen but by His Will for the human benefits and goodness.
And the Verse {I shall plot a plan (to destroy) your idols} means that he (pth) decided to wield a plan, through it he could destroy their idols completely. He said that in his noble spirit,
But didn’t our Master Ibrahim (pth) recognize the consequences of that dangerous act?
Absolutely he did, he was the best one to recognize the consequences of this great procedure, and knew that his life would be the price for that great plan, for he would face a whole strong nation by himself, but he determined to make himself-sacrifice for the way of the Almighty God to guide his ignorant, astray and lost people who lost the hereafter of immortal paradises and bliss, all that was because they were worshiping idols, this silly worshiping would bring them the distress and misery in the worldly life and the Fire in the hereafter.
He determined to do a great thing and appeal to God to bless his deed, however, if the plan worked, it would be the reason to change all his people's life.
He was waiting for the right time to come, as his people were celebrating in an important, public celebration where everybody disported and spend the night there, thus our Master Ibrahim (pth) took the opportunity to enter the temple, carried an axe in his noble hand… through his premeditative decision he began to smash all the idols except the biggest one, he left it and hung the axe over it, making a big surprise for them where no human could imagine or conceive it in that time.
The Almighty God says {So he broke them to pieces, (all) except the biggest of them, that they might turn to it}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 58
The word (pieces) means they were turned into small parts which were thrown on the ground.
And the rest Verse {that they might turn to it} means that they (the people of our Master Ibrahim) might return to the Almighty God and awake from their unbelief, return to their thinking in order to be guided to the Divine Truth, thus if they had thought of these idols which were thrown in pieces on the ground, they would have realized that these idols had no strength nor power to defend themselves and the biggest one which was still unbroken among those idols, couldn’t protect the rest of them and it had no power nor will, then they would know their astray and regret that they worshiped idols, therefore guiding them would be easier by giving them help getting them out of the darkness of disbelief to the Light of God and His Envoy.
The public celebration was almost finished, and that night was to end after it had witnessed what they had committed during it of evil deeds. They carried their burden on their necks, but they didn’t know what that great youth had done with their idols, when the priests of the temple entered their temple they were astonished of what they had seen they opened their mouth and their eyes were constrained on that calamity in great sadness and pain.
The Almighty says: {They said: “Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be one of the wrong-doers”.}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 59
Among themselves {They said: “We heard a young man talking (against) them who is called Ibrahim”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 60
The name “Ibrahim” means that our Master Ibrahim denied their worshipping idols and loved his Lord.
They decided to bring our Master Ibrahim (pth) to make sure and establish the truth of what they heard, they wanted to bring him before people in order that he might be known by people and to testify that he was the doer, they interrogated him and didn’t give the sentence without hearing him, so their action denotes that all things and affairs of this universe are not controlled but by Al'lah's Will, otherwise, if this statement was not true, they would kill him promptly.
The Almighty Al'lah says: {They said:”then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may testify”.} ; they may testify that he was the doer.
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 61
Our Master Ibrahim (pth) came in stable steps, walking in honour and superior strides, feeling proud of his great deed, the happiness clearly appeared in his noble face as he came to receive a great reward or a surprise gift! But actually he came into an impendent danger.
Whereas, he entered inside the temple, he found many faces full of extreme anger and rage, with eagerness to know what happened that night, then immediately they asked him:
{They said:”Are you the one who has done this to our gods, O Ibrahim”}: are you the one who destroyed our gods?
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 62
Our master Ibrahim (pth) looked at the broken idols, then he looked at the biggest one with the axe pendent on it, and answered them:
{Ibrahim said: Nay, this one, the biggest of them did it, Ask them, if they can speak!}: “the biggest of them did it” it may answer you “Ask them…” ask them who did that. He said that to them, they might think about their false worshipping, “If they can speak” if they could answer you about the one who did it.
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 63
He stimulated their inactive thoughts in spite of their will, their worshipping idols turned their hearts and minds into stones, even though he (pth) stimulated their brains to think true.
Truly, it was a great plan which came out from a true believer and thinker with insight-eyed, so what will they answer him now?
They admitted and pronounced against their will that the idols didn’t speak, therefore how could we ask them!
{So they turned to themselves…} they were astonished with his answer and realized their slander and hypocrisy and that all their deeds were wrong.
{And said: “Verily, you are the wrong-doers”.} they acknowledged the truth and admitted that they were astray, they realized the Truth and returned to it. After that soon their voices became louder feeling ashamed of themselves that a young boy in an early age revealed that they, their fathers and grand fathers were astray, however, after having the clear proof with no false and no haze in it and their belief was confuted, they retreated and remained unbelievers. Satan had already returned to them whispering in their chests, so some said to others you left the gods without protection.
The Almighty Al'lah says: {then they turned to themselves(their first thought and said): “Indeed you know well that these (idols) speak not}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 65
The word (turned to) means that they retreated.
They returned from what they thought in their minds which were motivated by our Master Ibrahim (pth), to their false way and remained in their going astray, they said to each other: You are responsible for leaving the idols without protection, you should protect them, whereas our master Ibrahim (pth) answered them strongly and firmly to put an end to their transgression and arrogance.
God says: {Ibrahim said:”Do you then worship besides Allah, things that can neither profit you, nor harm you}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 66
What a silliness! You worshiped stones … which are thrown pieces on the ground?
If those stones couldn’t defend themselves, then how could they harm or benefit you!? Answer me!
{Fie upon you, and upon that which you worship besides Allah! Don't you mind the Truth}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 67
The word (Fie upon you) means: what a silly way you adopt (and upon that which you worship besides Allah ): your adopted way and continuing in such false thinking absolutely make me fed up with that. After I revealed the truth with logical knowledge and Divine proof, but you insist on remaining on your false belief even after I put you on the true track!
Truly it is a foolish act.
Why don’t you think that those idols have nothing, no power, no strength and unable to perform any act, the Almighty God gave you this valuable jewel, it is the thought which enables you to think and attain the Divine Truth, so why don’t you think in truth and leave your stray way behind!?
How is it to you to leave your God the Great Creator Who has favoured you with uncountable bounties and bestowed upon you all bliss! and go with a stray people who died long time ago!
Dear student,
You see that all the actions and sayings which our Master Ibrahim (pth) acted and said were full of honor, he was among them the high sublime ranked man while his people were in low rank. When those deviated people were clearly confuted, those of uncompassionate and inhuman full-hearted decided to burn our Master Ibrahim (pth) as a punishment for his great deed, his Divine call truly fell on deaf ears, actually they made their ears deaf and refused to listen to any logical proof of the great Envoy revelation.
The Almighty says: {they said: “build for him a building, and throw him into the blazing fire”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 37, As-Saffat, Verse 97
They judged him to be thrown in fire, but he (pth) was very brave and didn’t care about their threatening because he was striving to guide them through any way:
God the Almighty says: {And I fear not those whom you associate with Allah in worship…}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 6, Al-An’am (Livestock), Verse 80
The people of his village emblazed a fire for several days until the blaze of the fire became high and reached the sky, they wanted him to be as a lesson that no one would dare to touch their idols again, but the Almighty God wanted to show them a great miracle through their own hands and the fire they prepared and emblazed.
The Almighty says: {They said: “Burn him and help your gods, if you will be doing”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 68
They couldn’t get near the fire which they had emblazed because of the sever blazing of it, therefore they invented the ballista (striking machine) to put him on it and throw him upon the fire.
Indeed, the Almighty God allowed them to carry out their harmful plan with the consent of our master Ibrahim (pth), he determined to sacrifice himself to make them see a miracle in order to be guided... When they put him on the ballista in order to throw him upon the fire, Gabriel (PBUH) came to our Master Ibrahim and asked him: Did you need anything? He (pth) said: From you nothing, then Gabriel said: Then from God? Ibrahim said: I don’t need to ask as long as He is aware of my state, O my brother, leave me.
Dear student, according to this marvellous conversation you can recognize easily that our Master Ibrahim (pth) knew well that the Almighty God is full of sympathy and mercy.
When they threw our Master Ibrahim (pth) upon the fire, {We said:”O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim”}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 69
Accordingly, before their eyes he got out from their great fire without any burn or any harm resulted from the ballista cast, he (pth) got out with his head uplifted and face shinning more than the full-moon in the dark night, all what he desired from his people was to throw evil out of their wicked spirit and to be guided to the Almighty, their Provider and Creator.
But unfortunately, despite that great miracle they didn’t appreciate or esteem him, they were neither guided by a logical Divine fact which he had revealed before nor by the present miracle which happened before their eyes, moreover they determined and insisted on their destroying shunning.
{And they wanted to harm him, but we made them the worst losers}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 21, Al-Anbiya’ (The Prophets), Verse 70
The statement (wanted to harm) means that they had managed or planned to harm him through burning him with the fire in return for his deed of smashing their idols to be as a lesson for everyone.
The words (worst losers) means great loss; there is a lost person, more lost person and the most lost person, this later is the one who has the greatest forfeiture.
Those people resisted our master Ibrahim (pth) and therefore they lost the paradise prepared to them by Al'lah which he could lead them to if they would believe in God and his Envoy (our Master Ibrahim), therefore their loss was great and intensive.
Alternatively, he left them, leaving their issue to the Almighty God.
It is very important to recognize that after he got out unscathed from the fire no one of the whole nation dared to touch or hurt him, however all what happened to him happened according to God’s Will to be a miracle for his people to see that the Envoy of God couldn’t be burnt by fire, therefore they would believe him and follow his Divine instructions, but they shunned him and repelled against his guidance, accordingly he (pth) abandoned them emigrating to another area searching for another people who might glorify the Guidance of the Almighty God and follow Its instructions.
The Almighty says: {He said: I will emigrate for the sake of my lord, Verily He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise}
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 29, Al-Ankabout, Verse 26
Questions:
1- How did our Master Ibrahim (pth) attain the true belief in the Almighty God?
2- Why did our Master Ibrahim (pth) want to smash the idols?
3- Did our Master Ibrahim (pth) estimate the consequences of his deed when he smashed the idols?
4- Explain this Holy Verse, the Almighty God says {So he broke them to pieces, all except the biggest of them, that they might turn to it}?
5- Was our master Ibrahim (pth) afraid when the people of his town called to question him about smashing the idols? How did he come?
6- Why did the Almighty God allow those people to apply their harmful judge on our Master Ibrahim (pth) by throwing him upon fire? Why did not the fire burn our master Ibrahim (pth)?
7- Is the speech and the answer of our master Ibrahim (pth) when he said, (that the responsibility of smashing the idols was that of the biggest one) considered as a lie or as a sin?! Or was it the most suitable speech on that state?!
Exercises:
Contemplate the hearing system of yours which the Almighty God bestowed upon you, these ears which collect the voices and make you able to know what happens around you, think deeply of this system. Then, mention the wisdom and the benefit, which you get through your thinking, behind the creating of this system.