Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Abraham into the biggest fire they could build. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Abraham. For several days they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with firewood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Abraham into the fire. Abraham was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. The people stood away from the pit because of the great heat. Then the chief priest gave his order to cast Abraham into the fire.
The angel Gabriel came near Abraham’s head and asked him: “O Abraham do you wish for
anything?” Abraham replied: “Nothing from you.”
The catapult was shot and Abraham 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 for Allah the Almighty had issued His command:
“O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Abraham.” (Ch 21:69 Quran)
The fire submitted to the will of Allah, becoming cool and safe for Abraham. It only burned his
bonds, and he sat in the midst of the fire as if he were sitting in a garden. He glorified and praised Allah the Almighty, with a heart that contained only his love for Allah. There was not any vacant space therein for fear, awe, or worry. It was filled with love only.
Fear and awe were dead, and the fire was turned into coolness, making the air pleasant. Those who love Allah as Abraham do did not fear.
The Faith of the Believers
Allah declared:
“Those (believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said: “Verily! the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.” but it only increased them in Faith, and they said: Allah Alone is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs for us.” So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. Allah is the Owner of Great bounty. It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya (supporters and friends, polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad) so fear them not but fear Me if you are true believers.”
(Ch 3:173-175 Quran)
The throng, the chiefs, and the priests sad watching the fire from a distance. It was burning their faces and nearly suffocating 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 Abraham coming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but his was bright with the light and grace of Allah. The raging fire had become cool for Abraham and had only charred the ropes which held him. He walked out of the fire as if he were walking out of a garden. Cries of astonishment were heard from the heathens.
“They wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. (Ch 21:70)
This miracle shamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However
after his event many of the people followed Abraham, although some kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers.
Abraham challenges those who proclaim themselves as gods, King Namrud
Abraham had established a definite reasoning against idolaters. Nothing was left for him except to reason against the people who proclaimed themselves gods.
When the king, Namrud, heard of Abraham’s safe exit from the fire he became very angry. He
feared that the status of godhead he had proclaimed for himself was not challenged by an ordinary human being. He summoned Abraham to the palace and held a dialogue with him which Allah Almighty recounted:
“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).
(Ch 2:258 Quran)
Abraham’s fame spread throughout the entire kingdom. People talked about how he had been
saved from the blazing fire and how he had debated with the king and left him speechless. In the meantime, Abraham continued calling people to believe in Allah, exerting a great effort to guide his people to the right path.
He tried every means to convince them. However in spite of his love and care for his people, they felt angry and deserted him. Only one woman and one man of his people shared his belief in Allah. The woman’s name was Sarah and she became his wife. The man’s name was Lot and he became a prophet.
When Abraham realized that no one else was going to believe in his call, he decided to emigrate.
He left his people and traveled with his wife and Lot to a city called Ur, then another called
Haran, and then to Palestine.
Allah the Almighty told us:
” So Lut believed in him (Abraham’s message of Islamic Monotheism). He (Abraham) said: “I will emigrate for the sake of my Lord. Verily, He is the All Mighty, the All Wise.” (Ch 29:26)
After Palestine, Abraham traveled to Egypt, calling people to believe in Allah wherever he
traveled, judging fairly between people, and guiding them to truth and righteousness.
Hadith about Abraham, Sarah and Hajar Abu Hurairah narrated that Abraham (pbuh) did not tell a lie except on three occasions, twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted and Almighty) when he said:
“I am sick,” (when his people were holding a festival in honor of their gods, Abraham excused himself by saying he was sick. (Ch 37:89 Quran)
and when he said: “(I have not done this but) the big idol has done it.” The (third
was) that while Abraham and Sarah (his wife) were going (on a journey), they passed by (the
territory of) a tyrant. Someone said to the tyrant: “This man (Abraham is accompanied by a very charming lady.” SO, he sent for Abraham and asked him about Sarah saying “Who is this lady?”
Abraham said: “She is my sister.” Abraham went to Sarah said “O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him that you are my sister do not contradict my statement.” the tyrant then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he tried to take a hold of her with his hand, but his hand got stiff and he was confounded.
He asked Sarah: “Pray to Allah for me and I shall not harm you.” SO Sarah asked
Allah to cure him and he got cured. He tried to take hold of her for the second time, but his hand got as stiff as or stiffer than before and he was more confounded. He again requested Sarah:
“Pray to Allah for me, and I will not harm you.” Sarah asked Allah to again, and he became all
right. He then called one of his guards who had brought her and said: “You have not brought me a human being but have brought me a devil.” The tyrant then gave Hajar as a maid servant to Sarah.
Abraham, gesturing with his hand, asked: “What has happened?” She replied: “Allah has
spoiled the evil plot of the infidel or immoral person and gave me Hajar for service.” Abu
Hurairah then addressed his listeners saying: “That Hajar was your mother, O Bani Ma is Sama (Arab, the descendants of Ishmael, Hajar’s son).”