Prophet Ibrahim

Prophet Ibrahim

His Debate with Polytheists

Objective of the Lesson

Prophet Ibrahim was known to debate with the people to make them realize thee is one God and to encourage them to worship God alone. His intelligent debates helped people understand the oneness of Allah but also created enemies for him. This lesson discusses some of Ibrahim's debates.

Changing the mindset of people is difficult. It usually requires years of teaching and showing proofs and examples. Even then most people refuse to accept a new thought, particularly if it relates to a religion and lifestyle. Its noe easy to tell people about the existence of Allah or that they should worship Him alone. If you try to tell people to worship Allah it wont be easy. Allah sent messengers to teach people and to worship Allah alone. Even though this was hard the messengers did not give up. They use different ways to tell people about Allah and today we wil learn about the method od Ibrahim alayhi salam.

Ibrahim Received Guidance

• When Prophet Ibrahim received guidance he was really young

• Allah gave him wisdom and knowledge to understand the way the heavens and earth worked

People Worshipped Idols

• Ibrahim understood that idols were only man made objects

• He understood even that natural objects like the sun and the moon and stars could not be God

• People did not understand that these worthless idols could not be gods.

• Ibrahim lived in a place called Ur in ancient Iraq

Ibrahim reasons with his Father

• اِذۡ قَالَ لِاَبِيۡهِ يٰۤـاَبَتِ لِمَ تَعۡبُدُ مَا لَا يَسۡمَعُ وَلَا يُبۡصِرُ وَ لَا يُغۡنِىۡ عَنۡكَ شَيۡـئًـا‏ ﴿19:42﴾

  (And remind people) when he said to his father: "Father! Why do you worship that which neither sees nor hears, and which can be of no avail to you?

  
  

• Ibrahim thought his father would understand the idols wouldnt be able to help him.

• HIs father never listened but instead became angry with him.

• He wanted Ibrahim to leave the house for not respecting the idols.

Ibrahim reasons with people

Many people worshipped idols, the sun, the moon, and the stars. Ibrahim tried to tell them that of the stars set then they cannot be gods. if the moon disappears then they cannot be gods. Some people understood Ibrahim's arguments but most did not want to understand.

Ibrahim debates with a King

• Life for Ibrahim became very difficult in his native city so he left.

• The king of the new city Ibrahim went to was named Nimrod

• Nimrod thought he was Allah

• Nimrod heard about Ibrahim calling others to worship Allah alone so he called him to question him.

• Nimrod thought giving life and death was easy, and there was nothing special about God.

• When Ibrahim said His lord brings the sun from the east to the west Nimrod was defeated

How to Discuss the Truth

• We discuss the truth gently and respectfully

• We to listen to both sides then speak about your beliefs

• Arguing doesnt mean we shout or call names

• If people laugh or ridicule your argument the Quran teaches us to walk away

How to Discuss the Truth

• Ibrahim did not shout at his father, his people. nor the king

• He told the truth gently without being afraid

• When Musa spoke to fir'awn Allah ordered him to speak in a gentle manner

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  When ever we speak we should speak in a gentle manner.

• We should also speak to people with wisdom and in a civil manner

Points to ponder

People do not often change their beliefs and mindset. They tend to remain faithful to their belief system and choose not to apply reason. Under such circumstances how should a person engage in discussions about religion, politics, or any other senstive issue?

Weekend Quiz 12

the next slides are counted as homework!

Multiple Choice

What did Ibrahim tell his father NOT to worship?

• Allah

• The people

• Idols

• The Prophets

Multiple Choice

What did Ibrahim say he did NOT worship?

• The sun and the moon and the stars

• The angels

• Allah

• His father

Multiple Choice

READ THE AYAH BELOW: What did the people worship in the ayah?

(27:24) "I found that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun rather than Allah. Shayatan has made their deeds appear attractive to them and has, thus, debarred them from the Right Path so they do not find true guidance"

• The Ocean

• The Mountains

• The Sun

• The Moon

Multiple Choice

What was the name of the City where Ibrahim was born and lived during his childhood?

• Yanbu

• Ukraine

• Ur

• Ural

Open Ended

When we argue with people what is the best way to speak with them?

Multiple Choice

According to the Qur'aan, Who in Ibrahims house did not believe in Allah?

• His wife

• His Son

• his Uncle

• His Father

Multiple Choice

What specific thing did Ibrahim say to his people about the sun, moon, and stars?

• He did not like thigs that set

• He did not believe in the sun, moon, and stars

• He did not think the sun and moon and stars were created

• He did not think the sun and moon and stars could speak

Multiple Choice

What was the name of thing in Iraq that argued with Ibrahim?

• Fir'awn

• King of Sheba

• Nimrod

• Negus

Multiple Choice

Ibrahim asked the king in Iraq to do something that he could not do. This the king was defeated in the debate. What did he ask him to do?

• He should give life

• Make the sun rise from the west

• Create a fly

• Build a Palace