Name: Episode 5: When Abraham Prayed Against Idols
Uploaded: 2020-07-26T00:00:00.000Z
Channel: Dr. Omar Suleiman
Description: As he challenged and left a society of idol worship, living a life of sacrifice for the One God, Ibrahim (pbuh) envisioned a better future for his future descendants in faith. But he also had a vision for what could go wrong. What is Hajj? Why is it important? Learn more in What Islam says about...

As he challenged and left a society of idol worship, living a life of sacrifice for the One God, Ibrahim (pbuh) envisioned a better future for his future descendants in faith. But he also had a vision for what could go wrong.<meta charset="utf-8">What is Hajj? Why is it important? Learn more in <a href="https://yaqeeninstitute.org/what-islam-says-about/hajj-and-umrah">What Islam says about Hajj and Umrah</a>&#xA0;

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Messengers sent by God to guide humanity back to monotheism and righteous living. From Adam to Muhammad, these chosen individuals conveyed divine revelations and served as moral exemplars.

Prophets

Episode 1: When Abraham was Catapulted Into a Fire

Episode 2: When Abraham Asked for Redress

Episode 3: When Abraham Became the Father of Nations

Episode 4: When Mecca Was Established

Episode 5: When Abraham Prayed Against Idols

Episode 6: When Abraham Prayed for His Descendants

Episode 7: When the House of Allah Was Built

Episode 8: When Abraham Met Muhammad ﷺ

Episode 9: When Abraham Sent Us a Message

Episode 10: When We Live Abraham's Legacy

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Dr. Omar Suleiman

There are many characteristics that define the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him - but one of his most revered qualities is that of complete and unwavering submission to Allah. His prayers and supplications are quoted more than any other Prophet in the Quran, and have deep meanings for us today. They are prayers of deep pain, and deep hope. They're prayers of acceptance, and ambition.

Join Dr. Omar Suleiman as he breaks down Abraham's words of submission to Allah and how we can apply them in our own lives.

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This section covers the core articles of faith (Īmān), namely faith in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree (qadr). Other related topics, often found in classical theological works, are also found in this section.

Faith

A Voice in the Desert

 One of the things that we praise about Ibrahim alayhi salam is not just his ability to see a bright future,  even in the midst of great pain and trauma, but he also had a vision for what could go wrong as well.  And so as he's making this du'a, as he's settling his family in Mecca,  he says,  wa jnubani wabaniya an na'bud al-asnaan  and protect me and my children from worshiping idols.  Here he is having left idol worship, sacrificed everything for the sake of one God and challenging idol worship  and settling his children, his family in this place.  And he's saying, protect me and protect them from ever worshiping idols.  He's building a Kaaba for the sake of one God and he knows that there could be the possibility that one day,  even this purest home, which is built for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,  could be filled with idols against its original purpose and its intent.  And as he's making du'a, he's praying for himself first,  which shows you that Ibrahim alayhi salam is teaching us that you never feel safe yourself from falling,  even if you've been challenging sin and evil your entire life, you never know, you may fall into it.  And so you always have to be vigilant and pray for it,  that you would be protected from it first, always, until you meet Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.  And so he says, wa jnubani and protect me and protect my children from worshiping the idols.  So he's praying for himself and he's praying for his offspring.  Then he says,  rabbi innahunna adlalna kathiran minan naas  Oh my Lord, verily, they have caused many to be led astray.  innahunna adlalna kathiran minan naas  They have led many to be led astray.  faman tabi'ani fa'innahu minni waman asani fa'innaka ghafoorun raheem  So whoever follows my way, then he is from me.  And if anyone goes astray or they follow other than that,  then you are most forgiving and most merciful.  Some of the scholars, they say, first and foremost, look how beautiful Ibrahim alayhi salam's heart is.  He's attributing the evil to the idols, even though it wasn't the idols.  It was the maker of the idols, his father and his people that led people astray.  But Ibrahim alayhi salam is keeping his anger directed at what was used to lead the people astray.  And he has this huge heart for those that are astray,  even if they punished him and even if they oppressed him.  He still says, waman asani  So whoever disobeys me, whoever takes another way,  then verily, you are most forgiving and most merciful.  So his anger is directed towards the idols themselves,  even though what are the idols except for the stones of man that are used to oppress other men  and take away from the worship of the creator of all men.  So Ibrahim alayhi salam says that they have led many people astray.  And at the same time, he does not pray directly for forgiveness for them.  But he says, oh Allah, you are most forgiving and most merciful in regards to them.  Now he also says, faman tabi'ani fa innahu minni  Whoever follows me, then that is who is from me.  And that's something to really cling to for a moment.  Ibrahim alayhi salam is saying my children, my offspring are not merely there  because they are biologically my offspring.  Those who are of me are those who follow me,  those who follow my way.  Fast forward years later,  and you have a Kaaba that is full of idols, hundreds of idols inside and out,  used for the exact opposite purpose of the Kaaba.  Not only that, but when the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam entered into the Kaaba,  guess who he saw? He saw an image of Ibrahim alayhi salam.  So they even cast Ibrahim alayhi salam,  the one who strove against those idols as being part of the scheme of that idol worship.  And the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is being excommunicated with his followers  from the people of Mecca.  For what reason? Because they have disobeyed our forefathers.  SubhanAllah. So the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and his followers are being treated in a certain way.  Why? Because they have disobeyed our forefathers,  even though the great forefather Ibrahim alayhi salam,  who settled that place in the first place is the one who's being disobeyed with the idol worship.  And Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says,  inna awla al-nas bi-ibraheem  That those who have the greatest right to Ibrahim,  lallatheena taba'oon, are those who follow Ibrahim alayhi salam.  Those are the ones who have the right to claim Ibrahim alayhi salam.  Not those who are biologically his descendants.  No, those who follow the way of Ibrahim alayhi salam.  What's the powerful message of that?  That Bilal radiAllahu ta'ala anhu and Salman radiAllahu anhu and Sumayya radiAllahu anha,  they are of Ibrahim alayhi salam, even though they're not biologically the children of Ibrahim alayhi salam.  And Abu Lahab and Abu Jahl and those that were opposing the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and oppressing his followers,  they are not of Ibrahim alayhi salam,  even if they could tra…

A Voice in the Desert

Dr. Omar Suleiman

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