Islahi Centre

Long long ago, about 4000 years ago, in faraway land of Iraq, a child whose name was Ibrahim (or Abraham) alaihissalam was born in the village of Ur.

He was so gracious, tender-hearted and pure in faith that Allah gave him wisdom when he was still a child.

Allah was so please with him that He made him His best friend.

Ibrahim’s desire to find the truth grew. One night, while looking at the sky, Ibrahim alaihissalam noticed one very bright star. “This is my Lord,” he said. But when it set, he said, “I do not love things which fade.”

Then Ibrahim alaihissalam noticed the moon shining brightly, as if it was made of pure silver. “This is my Lord,” he said happily. But when it set, “I do not love anything which sets.”

After the same thing happened with the sun, Ibrahim alaihissalam announced, “I will turn my face to Him who has created the heavens and the earth, and live a good life. I am no idol-worshipper.”

In the days of Ibrahim alaihissalam, people used to worship stones and statues, but even as a child he wondered why.

Ibrahim’s father, whose name was Azar, also believed in worshipping idols. When Ibrahim alaihissalam asked his father why he worshipped objects that did not speak, Azar became angry.

One day, when Azar and the other townspeople were away, Ibrahim alaihissalam took an axe and broke all the idols in the public temple except the biggest.

When people discovered this, they asked Ibrahim alaihissalam, “Who has done this?” “Ask the biggest idol,” replied Ibrahim alaihissalam calmly. “Why do you worship things that cannot even talk, move or understand?” Unable to understand the Prophet Ibrahim’s message, they were left speechless. They became furious, and tried to kill him.

They suggested that since this boy had insulted their gods, they should burn him alive. A huge heap of firewood was piled up and set alight. The people shouted and chanted aloud: “Death to Ibrahim! Burn him!” They thought that the burning of Ibrahim alaihissalam would cleanse their souls and protect them from harm.

As the bright red flames leaped up, Ibrahim alaihissalam felt no fear, as his faith in Allah was very strong and he knew that the people were wrong. As soon as the fire reached its peak, they picked up the Prophet Ibrahim alaihissalam and threw him into the blazing fire. But Allah was with him. Allah commanded the fire, “O fire, be cool and peaceful for Ibrahim.”

A miracle took place, and the fire, instead of burning Ibrahim alaihissalam, became a cool, safe place for him. The onlookers could hardly believe their eyes! So awestruck were they that they could neither speak nor move!

The moral of the story is that faith in Allah is the only thing that can save a believer in this world and the world to come.