Written by Anonymous
During the olden times, people everywhere used to carve stones and make idols
for worship. These statues were considered as gods, and people bowed and prayed
before them. Namrud, the King of Babylonia, was once informed by his astrologers
that someone was going to be born who would destroy his kingdom. He would teach
people another religious concept: that of worshipping none but only one God.
On hearing that, Namrud gave orders that no woman would conceive, hence no
child would be born in his kingdom. If any child was born, it would be killed
immediately. The mother of Prophet Ibrahim became pregnant. But by the will of
Allah, no sign of pregnancy was to be seen. When the time of birth of the child
came nearer, she went out of the town and hid in a cave. There, Prophet Ibrahim
was born. She then covered the child with a cloth, closed the mouth of the cave
with stones and returned home without the child. She told nobody of what had
happened.
The child was alone in the cave with no one to care for him. He was sucking
the milk which flowed of his fingers - by the grace of Almighty God. The child
grew up under Allah's protection. From time to time, his mother would come
secretly to the cave to watch him. This went on for thirteen years. On one
occasion when the mother visited the son, he beseeched her to take him out of
the cave. The mother warned that he would be killed by the King it he came to
know about him. But the child insisted that he be brought out of the cave as 13
years had been a long time.
Thus Prophet Ibrahim came out of the cave for the first time. It was late in
the evening when the sun was setting. When the night grew dark, he saw a star
and he said, "Is this my Lord?" But when it set, he said, "I love not the
setting ones." Then, when he saw the moon rising he said: "Is this my Lord?" But
when it set, he said, "If my Lord had not guided me I would have certainly been
among the mistaken ones. Then he saw the sun rising and said, "Is this my Lord?"
Is this the greatest?". But when it also set, he said, "O, my people! Surely. I
am clear of what you set up with Allah. Surely, I have turned myself wholly to
the One Who created the heavens and the earth. I am not of the ones who believe
and worship anything else other than Allah - the one God.
The people, at that time were not only idol-worshippers but they were also
worshipping the stars, the sun, the moon etc. All the time, he was making them
realize their error in their choice of 'gods'. He was showing his people what
they called a god, did not deserve to be called god and worshipped if it
disappeared at times. So Prophet Ibrahim started preaching the belief of One God
and persuading his people not to worship anything else but Allah, the one and
only God.
Once, it was the time of annual festival in the town and according to their
custom, Namrud, the King, went out of town with all his people to celebrate the
day. Prophet Ibrahim did not accompany them but stayed behind. He went to the
temple where all the idols were kept, and broke all of them one by one. He left
the biggest idol untouched, but put the axe on its shoulder.
When the King and his people returned they were very angry to see their idols
destroyed. He said that he would kill the person who had caused that damage. The
people told him that it must be a young man, named Ibrahim who always preached
against the worship of idols. He must have destroyed them.
When Prophet Ibrahim was asked if it was he who broke the idols. He replied,
"Why do you not ask the chief (of the idols) who is standing safe. Perhaps he
has done it, that is if your idol gods can speak, ask them as to who broke
them." Thus Prophet Ibrahim did not utter a lie denying what he had done. He
only wanted the people to first ask their own idols as to who had done it?
Namrud got very angry and asked his people their opinion. Every one suggested
that Prophet Ibrahim be punished by burning him alive in a big fire.
So, Prophet Ibrahim was jailed, while Namrud ordered that all available
firewood in the forest be collected and be heaped up in one open place. When
this was done, it was set alight. The fire burnt fiercely and widely for days
and days. It had generated so much heat that no bird dared to fly nearby. At the
appointed day on which Prophet Ibrahim was to be put in the fire and burnt,
Namrud with his large army and followers came out to that place to watch. On
seeing the huge fire and the intense heat, he began to ponder as to how it would
be possible to convey Prophet Ibrahim into the fire. Suddenly Satan, the devil,
came and suggested that a type of a crane be prepared which could be used to
hurl Prophet Ibrahim into the fire. This would cut out the need of any
assistance of human hands to do the risky job of delivering the Prophet into the
raging fire.
The crane was constructed and Prophet Ibrahim was lifted and readied to be
dumped into the fire. On seeing this tragic happening. the angels in the heaven
and all the creatures in the sky became deeply upset. Taking permission from
Almighty Allah, one by one, they all came to Prophet Ibrahim to inquire if they
could be of any help to him. The Prophet said that he was seeking help and
protection from none of them. The one from whom he expected help (that is
Almighty Allah), was fully aware of the dangerous situation in which he was and
would help him if need be.
Just then, the angel, Jibrail came to the Prophet and gave him a ring on
which the following was inscribed (written):
"There is no God but Allah"
"Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah"
"I depend and rely upon Allah"
"I submit my affair to the will of Allah."
Prophet Ibrahim put the holy ring on his finger and the grace and blessing of
Allah began to be showered upon him. Then came the command from Allah, "O fire!
Be nothing but coolness and peace for Ibrahim."
Thus the burning fire instantly lost its heat and no harm came to the
Prophet.
It is related that when Prophet Ibrahim was being thrown into the fire, the
angels in the heaven and the birds in the air cried in protest. One of them, a
small weak bird decided to burn itself along with the Prophet. As it was flying
towards the fire, the angel Jibrail was sent by Allah to inquire the reason why
it was going to commit suicide! The angel stopped the bird on the ground and
asked it to explain its strange action - that of trying to burn itself along
with Prophet Ibrahim. The bird said: "Don't you know that the friend of God is
to be burnt in the fire? As it is not within my strength to save him, I am
showing my sorrow and sympathy by accompanying him into the fire!"
The angel conveyed this incident to Allah. Then came a command from Allah to
tell the bird that it would be rewarded for its sincere feeling shown for the
Prophet. It was asked what it wished to have so that the wish be fulfilled. The
bird in reply said: "I do not wish to have anything from this world. All I wish
is to constantly remember Allah in prayer. There are a thousand and one names of
Allah. I know hardly a hundred names. I wish to be taught the remaining names.
Almighty Allah fulfilled its desire. As it flew from tree to tree, it went on
singing the names of Allah, thus remembering Him day and night.
To respect and sympathies with the friends of Allah; to remember Allah
constantly in prayer is better than fulfilling worldly desires. This is what the
little weak bird has shown to us. These are the acts of virtue which would one
day undoubtedly earn great rewards from Allah.
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