Prophet Ibrahim as an ‘ Ummah ’

1. Prophet Ibrahim as an ‘Ummah’ إن إبراهيم كان أمة قانتا لله حنيفا ولم يك من المشركين Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah , inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah .

2. Prophet Ibrahim as an ‘Ummah’ Abdullah Ibn Masood said: “The (man who is an) ‘Ummah’ is the one who teaches the people to do good. And ‘al-Qaanit’ is the one who is obedient to God. Imam at-Tabari: Allah’s statement ‘and he was not of the mushrikeen’ is due to the fact that Ibrahim never associated anything in worship with Allah, and he was innocent of the actions of Quraysh, and they were free of him.

3. قد كانت لكم أسوة حسنة في إبراهيم والذين معه There has already been for you an excellent example in Ibrahim and those with him

4. Al-Ma’areedh: Double-Entendre’s: - Abu Bakr (ra) and his ‘guide’ - The Prophet and his army. “We are from maa’”

5. Contentment with Allah Haajar (ra): “In this case, I am content with Allah” What is the meaning of ‘hajj’? How does this relate?

6. The Importance of Children فلما بلغ معه السعي قال يا بني إني أرى في المنام أني أذبحك فانظر ماذا ترى قال يا أبت افعل ما تؤمر ستجدني إن شاء الله من الصابرين And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast."

7. Two recitations: Taara: What do you see that we should do? Turaa: What do you see in yourself?

8. The Value of Tests “In that case, he will not cause us to be lost” Prophet (saw) said: “The people most severely tested are at the Prophets, then the rightly-acting people, then so on and so forth through the categories of people. Man will be tested according to the strength of their religion.”

9. Two recitations: Taara: What do you see that we should do? Turaa: What do you see in yourself?

10. The Sacrifice والذين تبوءوا الدار والإيمان من قبلهم يحبون من هاجر إليهم ولا يجدون في صدورهم حاجة مما أوتوا ويؤثرون على أنفسهم ولو كان بهم خصاصة ومن يوق شح نفسه فأولئك هم المفلحون And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

11. The Sacrifice “If you see Allah blessing a slave who is established upon his sins, then it is istidraaj (luring)” (Hadith) فلما نسوا ما ذكروا به فتحنا عليهم أبواب كل شيء حتى إذا فرحوا بما أوتوا أخذناهم بغتة فإذا هم مبلسون So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.

12. The Sacrifice فلما أسلما وتله للجبين وناديناه أن يا إبراهيم قد صدقت الرؤيا إنا كذلك نجزي المحسنين إن هذا لهو البلاء المبين وفديناه بذبح عظيم وتركنا عليه في الآخرين سلام على إبراهيم

13. The Sacrifice And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: "Peace upon Ibrahim."

14. وإذ يرفع إبراهيم القواعد من البيت وإسماعيل ربنا تقبل منا إنك أنت السميع العليم 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.

15. Tawaf “and We commanded Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Ismaa’eel (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I‘tikâf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer)” [al-Baqarah 2:125] 

16. Drinking zamzam and the sa’i between al-SafawalMarwa “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah) in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah). So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allaah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks” [Ibraaheem 14:37] 

17. The standing at ‘Arafah Yazeed ibn Shaybaan said: We were standing in ‘Arafah in a place far from the mawqif [where the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood]. Ibn Mirba’ al-Ansaari came to us and said, “I am the messenger of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who says to you: ‘Stay where you are (for it is also the place of standing), for you are standing in the area where your father Ibraaheem stood.’”

18. The Stoning  Abu Haamid al-Ghazaali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:  As for the stoning of the Jamaraat, the purpose behind it is to follow the command and manifest submission and servitude to Allaah, and show complete obedience without rational thought or the ego having any part in it. The aim is also to imitate Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), when Iblees (may Allaah curse him) appeared to him in that place to instil confusion in his mind or tempt him to sin, and Allaah commanded him to throw stones at him so as to drive him away and dash his hopes.