The Test of Ibrahim - Nouman Ali Khan

The Test of Ibrahim alayhis salaam – Brother Nouman Ali Khan

This story has been playing around in my head for days, ever since I’ve listened to this lecture over a year ago. It’s about time everyone else got to have a read so here goes

Bismillah

When Ibrahim alayhis salaam passed the test, Allah made him an imam amongst the people, amongst all of humanity

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [ Allah ] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers." [Baqarah:124]

Ibrahim alayhis salaam goes through many tests from jumping through fire, sacrificing his son to leaving his family in the desert where death awaits them but he alayhi salaam puts all his faith in Allah, the Most High. When anything happens to Ibrahim alayhis salaam, he remembers Allah FIRST. How many of us do that?

‘He is the One who created me, guided me, fed me and when I’m ill, He cures me’… SubhanAllah.

The greatest gift from Allah is when He, the Most High is happy with you and so what does Allah do for Ibrahim alayhis salaam? He makes me him the imam. This is not enough for Ibrahim alayhis salaam, he worries about his children, the future. When Allah made him the imam, this was not enough because he said that he would be tied to them on the day of judgement so if your kids have lost the deen, what are they going to teach their children?! On the day of judgement can you compete with all their good deeds? Allah responds to brilliantly – ‘My covenant does not include the wrongdoers’. This, for example means from the Quraish, not all the children will be good people.

Ibrahim alayhi salaam does not give up. This dua is not enough. When he builds the house of Allah, he says:

And [mention] when We made the House a place of return for the people and [a place of] security. And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, [saying], "Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer]." [Baqarah: 125]

And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits - whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day." [ Allah ] said. "And whoever disbelieves - I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination." [Baqarah: 126]

Ibrahim alayhis salaam does not want to answer for the disbelievers but Allah says that He will even let the disbelievers enjoy in it too and then drag them into the punishment of the Hell-fire.

 Now, Ibrahim’s alayhis salaam has been answered twice but does he give up? He is building the house of Allah and then mentions Isma’il alayhis salaam in his dua:

And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing. [Baqarah:127]

On a side note, the speaker mentioned that when you remember Allah by convenience, the best time to ask Allah for something is when you do something that Allah is pleased with i.e. after salah because you  have just obeyed Allah. The best place is the House of Allah; the best time is the last part of the night; the best month is the month of Ramadan. So here Ibrahim, alayhis salaam is doing one of the greatest acts, by building the house of Allah with his son. This is the best time to ask again but this time he modifies his dua, ‘Rabbana taqabbal minna’, OUR Lord accept from us. Before he said ‘ Rabbi’ (My Lord) but now he includes his son. This ensures at least one son. Allah does not respond with words and it is said the silence means acceptance thus implying Allah has accepted the dua. So, he goes on and asks another dua:

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. [Baqarah:128]

Again, there is no response from Allah therefore it means Allah has accepted the dua, yet again. So Ibrahim alayhis salaam keeps going:

Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise." [Baqarah:129]

He, alayhis salaam, asks for a messenger to be sent that is from amongst them. Why? This is because an outsider is seen as less relevant. He didn’t just ask for a messenger but one who will read Your signs and teach them your Verses and one who’ll cleanse them and purify them. The response to this dua is of course the advent of the Messenger, Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa sallam. When a concerned father makes sincere dua, Allah responds. The revelation is a response to the dua.

Allah tells us:

And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous. [Baqarah:130]

When his Lord said to him, "Submit", he said "I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds." [Baqarah:131]

And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims." [Baqarah:132]

The last ayah, Allah makes mention of Ibrahim and Yaqub who passed on this legacy to their children. Allah’s gift to us is giving us this deen of al Islam. Allah didn’t only answer the questions of Ibrahim and his son and his progeny but if that of Ishaq alayhis salaam, who wasn’t even there!

Allah says:

Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." [Baqarah:133]

That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do. [Baqarah:134]

This is an important lesson for us all. We all need to take heed, it is not too late to change ourselves!

The speaker then said that man must know of the age that he lives. Nowadays people are more concerned with culture than religion. Our legacy is not 50 years old! We are a 1400 plus ummah! Allah’s house has direct connection with preserving the future. When your kids grow up, they won’t listen to you. We need to open up the doors of communication. Look at Yaqub alayhis salaam; his sons took Yusuf alayhis salaam and dropped him into a well and how did he respond? ‘Fasabrun  Jamil’.

With this, we come to the end. All good is from Allah and any mistakes are from myself.