The pillars of Abraham’s religious invitation

The pillars of Abraham’s religious invitation

1- Disapproval of idolatry

In this regard the Quran says: “He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allah. Then will you not use reason?” (Surah Surat Al-'Anbya'-Verse 66-67). As it is clear in this verse is about those who do not pay attention to things which do not benefit them at all or harm them. It is said that imagine that you are not aware of what benefits and harms you or you do not want to become aware of them. Then are you not wise or you do not use your wisdom? Uff to you and to what you worship.

2- Aversion to idolaters and idols

In this regard the Quran says: “And I will leave you and those you invoke other than Allah” (Surah Maryam, verse 48)

3- Aversion to worship anything other than God

In this regard the Quran says: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship.” (Surah Az-Zukhruf-Verse 26)

4- Invitation to humans’ innate desire to worship God

In this regard the Quran says: “(said: I am averse to your gods) Except for He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me and he (Abraham) made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return [to it]” (Surah Az-Zukhruf-Verse 27-28). In these three verses, Abraham first mentions that aversion to the idolaters is one of the pillars of his religious invitation and then he invites people to the real Lord and Creator. In addition, he considers the invitation to Tawhid (monotheism) as an endowment among his descendants by which they can return to God.

5- Avoiding Satanism

In this regard the Quran says: “O my father, do not worship Satan. Indeed Satan has ever been, to the Most Merciful, disobedient.” (Surah Maryam-Verse 44). In this holy verse, while exhorting his father not to worship Satan, the Prophet Abraham (a.s) mentions that the reason is that Satan was recalcitrant against God, the Most Beneficent and did not obey Him. Accordingly, this command includes a very wide range of people including all of those who are disobedient to the commands of God and it has to be mentioned that Satan is the best example of those who are disobedient to God. Therefore, according to this statement it can be implied that Satan refers to a person who is disobedient to God. So it should be noted that when you face such people, you must not obey them.

6- Introducing the real Lord

In this regard the Quran says: “… except the Lord of the worlds who created me, and it is He who guides me. And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink. And when I am ill, it is He who cures me and who will cause me to die and then bring me to life and who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.” (Surah Ash-Shu`ara'-Verse 77-82). Since Abraham had to deal with people who only believed in what they saw, in order to introduce God to them, he used some concrete examples including “being created, eating, drinking water, being cured, death and life and forgiveness of the sins”. The reason is that in this world there is a reason for any event and hence, Abraham here states that the real and the main reason for any event can only be attributed to God. In this way, he prevents the ignorant people from associating anything with Allah due to unreal causes. In these examples, Abraham has tried to attribute everything directly and immediately to God. Accordingly, he attributed to Him everything from the most trivial issues such as (Quenching the thirst and satisfying the hunger) to the most significant issues such as (creation, life, guidance and death) so that those who are seeking the truth may understand it better.

7- Introducing the Day of Resurrection and warning against it

In this regard the Quran says: “And [Abraham] said, "You have only taken, other than Allah, idols as [a bond of] affection among you in worldly life. Then on the Day of Resurrection you will deny one another and curse one another, and your refuge will be the Fire, and you will not have any helpers” (Surah Al-`Ankabut-Verse 25). In this holy verse, while mentioning the issue of Day of Resurrection and warning against it, the Prophet Abraham (a.s) prevents them from Idolatry. Moreover, he refers to one of the features of the Day of Resurrection and states that in this day the truth will be revealed and as a result people will curse one another and will deny each other. But none of them will help you and they are all ineffective.

8 - Invitation to Islam [it means submission to the command of God]

In this regard the Quran says: “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 [submission to the command of God].” (Surah Al-Baqarah-Verse 132). When his Lord said to him, o Abraham! "Submit" and then he said "I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds, then he said he believed that submission to the command of God would make people prosperous. Hence, he invited them to this innate religion and he first invited his own sons.

9- Invitation to worship Allah and save yourself from the divine punishment

In this regard the Quran says: “And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, Worship Allah and fear Him.” (Surah Al-`Ankabut-Verse 16). According to this verse, this Prophet invited his people to two issues: A- Worshipping the Lord of the Worlds (Monotheism) B- Avoiding the divine punishment.

10- A solemn covenant with God

In this regard the Quran says: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.” (Surah Al-'Ahzab-Verse 7). Accordingly, the Almighty God took from His prophets a solemn covenant by which they had to remain steadfast in their invitation. So, if they were not steadfast in their invitation, they certainly would not be deserved to be His Prophet and the Messenger.

11- Extensive scope of the knowledge of God and paying attention to this important issue

In this regard the Quran says: “Our Lord, indeed, You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing is hidden from Allah on the earth or in the heaven.” (Surah 'Ibrahim-Verse 37). In this holy verse, this prophet invites people to a God who is aware of everything and from whom nothing is hidden and accordingly, it makes Him no difference whether we conceal something or not because He is aware of everything. Certainly, if this way of thinking leads to strong and unwavering faith in God, it will have an important effect on human’s life and this faith may create them a kind of infallibility too. Indeed, the prophets invited the people to a God who is infinite from all aspects, including His knowledge and its infinite scope.

The characteristics of the Prophets as role models in the holy Quran by Ainullah Irshadi