THE STORY OF THE PROPHET ABRAHAM - Destruction of Idols and Non-Burning Miracles

The failure of Prophet Abraham in realizing his father did not reduce the spirit of Prophet Abraham to inform his people to leave idols and only worship Allah SWT. The prophet Abraham always preached to his people endlessly and even the unbelievers were unable to refute the truth of the teachings of Prophet Abraham. But infidels always say that they only follow what their ancestors have taught and they do not want to leave the heresy.

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verses 51-56:

۞وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَآ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ رُشۡدَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلُ وَكُنَّا بِهِۦ عَٰلِمِينَ  ٥١ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنتُمۡ لَهَا عَٰكِفُونَ  ٥٢ قَالُواْ وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَٰبِدِينَ  ٥٣ قَالَ لَقَدۡ كُنتُمۡ أَنتُمۡ وَءَابَآؤُكُمۡ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ  ٥٤ قَالُوٓاْ أَجِئۡتَنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ أَمۡ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱللَّٰعِبِينَ  ٥٥ قَالَ بَل رَّبُّكُمۡ رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَهُنَّ وَأَنَا۠ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ  ٥٦

51.  And We had certainly given Abraham his sound judgement before, and We were of him well-Knowing

52.  When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"

53.  They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them."

54.  He said, "You were certainly, you and your fathers, in manifest error."

55.  They said, "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?"

56.  He said, "[No], rather, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth who created them, and I, to that, am of those who testify.

Surah Al-Ankabut verses 16-23:

وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱتَّقُوهُۖ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ  ١٦ إِنَّمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوۡثَٰنٗا وَتَخۡلُقُونَ إِفۡكًاۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ لَكُمۡ رِزۡقٗا فَٱبۡتَغُواْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزۡقَ وَٱعۡبُدُوهُ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لَهُۥٓۖ إِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ  ١٧ وَإِن تُكَذِّبُواْ فَقَدۡ كَذَّبَ أُمَمٞ مِّن قَبۡلِكُمۡۖ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ  ١٨ أَوَ لَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ كَيۡفَ يُبۡدِئُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥٓۚ يُعِيدُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٞ  ١٩ قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ كَيۡفَ بَدَأَ ٱلۡخَلۡقَۚ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ يُنشِئُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ  ٢٠ يُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرۡحَمُ مَن يَشَآءُۖ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُقۡلَبُونَ  ٢١ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعۡجِزِينَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِي ٱلسَّمَآءِۖ وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِيّٖ وَلَا نَصِيرٖ  ٢٢ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِ‍َٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِقَآئِهِۦٓ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يَئِسُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَتِي وَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٞ  ٢٣

16.  And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, "Worship Allah and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.

17.  You only worship, besides Allah, idols, and you produce a falsehood. Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned."

18.  And if you [people] deny [the message] - already nations before you have denied. And there is not upon the Messenger except [the duty of] clear notification.

19.  Have they not considered how Allah begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah, is easy.

20.  Say, [O Muhammad], "Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah, over all things, is competent."

21.  He punishes whom He wills and has mercy upon whom He wills, and to Him you will be returned.

22.  And you will not cause failure [to Allah] upon the earth or in the heaven. And you have not other than Allah any protector or any helper.

23.  And the ones who disbelieve in the signs of Allah and the meeting with Him - those have despaired of My mercy, and they will have a painful punishment.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 83-87:

۞وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِۦ لَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ  ٨٣ إِذۡ جَآءَ رَبَّهُۥ بِقَلۡبٖ سَلِيمٍ  ٨٤ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوۡمِهِۦ مَاذَا تَعۡبُدُونَ  ٨٥ أَئِفۡكًا ءَالِهَةٗ دُونَ ٱللَّهِ تُرِيدُونَ  ٨٦ فَمَا ظَنُّكُم بِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ  ٨٧

83.  And indeed, among his kind was Abraham,

84.  When he came to his Lord with a sound heart

85.  [And] when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?

86.  Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allah you desire?

87.  Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?"

Prophet Abraham felt that the debate was of no use. The unbelievers are stubborn and do not want to accept the truth. Prophet Abraham made a strategy so that unbelievers could think for themselves that idols were of no use. It has become a tradition and habit of the inhabitants of the Babylonian kingdom that every year they go out of the city together and hold parties that are held on holidays. They camp while carrying enough food and drink supplies. They have fun outside the city while their city is empty and quiet. All residents are invited to leave their homes and party together. Prophet Abraham was actually invited to join the party, but the Prophet Abraham pretended that he was sick, so that Prophet Abraham might not come out to party.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 88-90:

فَنَظَرَ نَظۡرَةٗ فِي ٱلنُّجُومِ  ٨٨ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَقِيمٞ  ٨٩ فَتَوَلَّوۡاْ عَنۡهُ مُدۡبِرِينَ  ٩٠

88.  And he cast a look at the stars

89.  And said, "Indeed, I am [about to be] ill."

90.  So they turned away from him, departing.

At the right time, the Prophet Abraham entered an empty idol worship place with an ax. Then he destroyed small and medium idols. The largest statue is left intact and the ax is placed in the biggest idol.

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verses 57-58:

وَتَٱللَّهِ لَأَكِيدَنَّ أَصۡنَٰمَكُم بَعۡدَ أَن تُوَلُّواْ مُدۡبِرِينَ  ٥٧ فَجَعَلَهُمۡ جُذَٰذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرٗا لَّهُمۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ يَرۡجِعُونَ  ٥٨

57.  And [I swear] by Allah, I will surely plan against your idols after you have turned and gone away."

58.  So he made them into fragments, except a large one among them, that they might return to it [and question].

Surah Ash-Shaffat verses 91-93:

فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ ءَالِهَتِهِمۡ فَقَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَ  ٩١ مَا لَكُمۡ لَا تَنطِقُونَ  ٩٢ فَرَاغَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ضَرۡبَۢا بِٱلۡيَمِينِ  ٩٣

91.  Then he turned to their gods and said, "Do you not eat?

92.  What is [wrong] with you that you do not speak?"

93.  And he turned upon them a blow with [his] right hand.

King Namrud and all of his followers have returned from parties outside the city. They were shocked when they saw almost all of the idols falling apart. Then the Prophet Abraham was arrested, because only he did not participate in partying out of the city. Surely Prophet Abraham, who destroyed their idols.

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verses 59-61:

قَالُواْ مَن فَعَلَ هَٰذَا بِ‍َٔالِهَتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ لَمِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ  ٥٩ قَالُواْ سَمِعۡنَا فَتٗى يَذۡكُرُهُمۡ يُقَالُ لَهُۥٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمُ  ٦٠ قَالُواْ فَأۡتُواْ بِهِۦ عَلَىٰٓ أَعۡيُنِ ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَشۡهَدُونَ  ٦١

59.  They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers."

60.  They said, "We heard a young man mention them who is called Abraham."

61.  They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people that they may testify."

Prophet Abraham was brought before King Namrud for interrogation. The incident was witnessed by many people. Prophet Abraham was happy because this condition was what he expected to be able to carry out his strategy.

King Namrud asked, "Do you destroy those idols?"

Prophet Abraham replied, "No. Actually the biggest statue did it. Ask the biggest statue if he could speak. Isn't the ax in his neck?"

King Namrud also replied to the answer of Abraham, "O Abraham, you want to fool us? You know that the statue cannot speak, how can we ask him?"

This is the most awaited Prophet Abraham. Prophet Abraham said loudly, "If so, why do you worship other than Allah? The statues cannot speak, cannot move, cannot even protect yourself. The statues cannot benefit and will not harm you . "

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verses 62-67:

قَالُوٓاْ ءَأَنتَ فَعَلۡتَ هَٰذَا بِ‍َٔالِهَتِنَا يَٰٓإِبۡرَٰهِيمُ  ٦٢ قَالَ بَلۡ فَعَلَهُۥ كَبِيرُهُمۡ هَٰذَا فَسۡ‍َٔلُوهُمۡ إِن كَانُواْ يَنطِقُونَ  ٦٣ فَرَجَعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ فَقَالُوٓاْ إِنَّكُمۡ أَنتُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ  ٦٤ ثُمَّ نُكِسُواْ عَلَىٰ رُءُوسِهِمۡ لَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتَ مَا هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ يَنطِقُونَ  ٦٥ قَالَ أَفَتَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمۡ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمۡ  ٦٦ أُفّٖ لَّكُمۡ وَلِمَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ  ٦٧

62.  They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"

63.  He said, "Rather, this - the largest of them - did it, so ask them, if they should [be able to] speak."

64.  So they returned to [blaming] themselves and said [to each other], "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."

65.  Then they reversed themselves, [saying], "You have already known that these do not speak!"

66.  He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you?

67.  Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allah. Then will you not use reason?"

King Namrud and the entire audience fell silent hearing that answer. They can't argue. King Namrud and his followers decided to punish Prophet Abraham, that is, burned alive. A place is provided to put the collected firewood. The collected wood was burned so that there was a great fire. Prophet Abraham, who was bound to be in the fire.

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verse 68:

قَالُواْ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓاْ ءَالِهَتَكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ فَٰعِلِينَ  ٦٨

68.  They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."

Surah Ash-Shaffat verse 97:

قَالُواْ ٱبۡنُواْ لَهُۥ بُنۡيَٰنٗا فَأَلۡقُوهُ فِي ٱلۡجَحِيمِ  ٩٧

97.  They said, "Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire."

Prophet Abraham remained calm because he believed that Allah SWT would save His faithful servant. When in the flames, the Prophet Abraham felt cold. The fire burned wood. When the fire was extinguished, amazing, the body and clothes of the Prophet Abraham did not burn in the slightest, he was still in good shape. Only the rope that binds it is burned. The people who witnessed it were surprised. They don't think such a thing can happen. This is the miracle of the Prophet Abraham, not able to be burned.

Surah Al-Anbiya’ verses 69-70:

قُلۡنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِي بَرۡدٗا وَسَلَٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ  ٦٩ وَأَرَادُواْ بِهِۦ كَيۡدٗا فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمُ ٱلۡأَخۡسَرِينَ  ٧٠

69.  Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."

70.  And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.

Surah Al-Ankabut verse 24:

فَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُواْ ٱقۡتُلُوهُ أَوۡ حَرِّقُوهُ فَأَنجَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يُؤۡمِنُونَ  ٢٤

24.  And the answer of Abraham's people was not but that they said, "Kill him or burn him," but Allah saved him from the fire. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe.

Surah Ash-Shaffat verse 98:

فَأَرَادُواْ بِهِۦ كَيۡدٗا فَجَعَلۡنَٰهُمُ ٱلۡأَسۡفَلِينَ  ٩٨

98.  And they intended for him a plan, but We made them the most debased.