THE STORY OF THE PROPHET ABRAHAM - Prophet Abraham's Da'wah to His Father

Aazar, the father of Prophet Abraham was a person who had no faith and worshiped idols. In fact, he was a maker of statues sold to others for worship. Prophet Abraham considered that the obligation that must first be done before preaching to others is to awaken his own father, as the closest person, also reminded his father that the act of worshiping idols was a misguided act. The Prophet Abraham considered that the attitude of filial piety obliged him to give information in order to leave heretical beliefs and believe in Allah Almighty.

With a polite and gentle attitude, Prophet Abraham met his father and said that he had been sent by Allah SWT to be a prophet and apostle and that he had been given knowledge that his father did not know. The Prophet Abraham gently asked his father why he worshiped idols as his people did. Though these idols cannot give the slightest good and cannot prevent evil. It was explained that the act of worshiping idols was the teaching of Satan who was the enemy of humanity since it was revealed to earth. Prophet Abraham invited his father to meditate on the advice to leave idols, so that only worship Allah SWT who created creatures including mankind, who gave gifts, provided sustenance, provided enjoyment of life, and had entrusted the earth and its contents to mankind.

Surah Maryam verses 41-45:

وَٱذۡكُرۡ فِي ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقٗا نَّبِيًّا  ٤١ إِذۡ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَلَا يُبۡصِرُ وَلَا يُغۡنِي عَنكَ شَيۡ‍ٔٗا  ٤٢ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّي قَدۡ جَآءَنِي مِنَ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعۡنِيٓ أَهۡدِكَ صِرَٰطٗا سَوِيّٗا  ٤٣ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لَا تَعۡبُدِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنَ كَانَ لِلرَّحۡمَٰنِ عَصِيّٗا  ٤٤ يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٞ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيۡطَٰنِ وَلِيّٗا  ٤٥

41.  And mention in the Book [the story of] Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.

42.  [Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?

43.  O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.

44.  O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient.

45.  O my father, indeed I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the Most Merciful so you would be to Satan a companion [in Hellfire]."

However, Aazar was angry at the words of his son because he was considered to have dared to insult his beliefs, even being told to leave his beliefs. Aazar threatened to stoning his son and he expelled his son.

Surah Maryam verse 46:

قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنۡ ءَالِهَتِي يَٰٓإِبۡرَٰهِيمُۖ لَئِن لَّمۡ تَنتَهِ لَأَرۡجُمَنَّكَۖ وَٱهۡجُرۡنِي مَلِيّٗا  ٤٦

46.  [His father] said, "Have you no desire for my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so avoid me a prolonged time."

With a calm attitude, Abraham begged his father's forgiveness to Allah SWT and prayed that his father would always be given safety. Abraham will always believe in Allah SWT and abstain from shirk.

Surah Maryam verses 47-48:

قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكَۖ سَأَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّيٓۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِي حَفِيّٗا  ٤٧ وَأَعۡتَزِلُكُمۡ وَمَا تَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَدۡعُواْ رَبِّي عَسَىٰٓ أَلَّآ أَكُونَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّي شَقِيّٗا  ٤٨

47.  [Abraham] said, "Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.

48.  And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah and will invoke my Lord. I expect that I will not be in invocation to my Lord unhappy."

Abraham's prayer or request for his father was only because of his affection as a child to his parents. But after Allah SWT explained that Abraham's father was the enemy of Allah then Abraham realized it. There is no moral burden as a son to his father.

Surah At-Taubah verse 114:

وَمَا كَانَ ٱسۡتِغۡفَارُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوۡعِدَةٖ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوّٞ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنۡهُۚ إِنَّ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٞ  ١١٤

114.  And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Abraham that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.