Page 60 - General Knowledge from the Qur'an

58 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE QUR'AN

said, 'Have you brought us the truth or are you playing games?' He
said, 'Far from it! Your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth,
He Who brought them into being. I am one of those Who bear witness
to that. By Allah, I will devise some scheme against your idols when
your backs are turned.' (Surat al-Anbiya', 52-57)
The Prophet Ibrahim's (as) Prayer
My Lord, give me right judgement and unite me with the righteous;
and make me highly esteemed among the later peoples; and make me
one of the inheritors of the Garden of Delight; and forgive my father –
he was one of the misguided; and do not disgrace me on the Day they
are raised up, the Day when neither wealth nor sons will be of any use.
(Surat ash-Shu'ara', 83-88)
It is not right for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgive-
ness for the idolaters – even if they are close relatives – after it has be-
come clear to them that they are the Companions of the Blazing Fire.
Ibrahim would not have asked forgiveness for his father but for a
promise he made to him, and when it became clear to him that he was
an enemy of Allah, he renounced him. Ibrahim was tender-hearted
and forbearing. (Surat at-Tawba, 113-114)
The Prophet Ibrahim (as) Breaks the Idols in Pieces
He took a look at the stars and said, 'I am sick.' So they turned their
backs on him. He turned surreptitiously to their gods and said, 'Do you
not eat? What is the matter with you that you do not speak?' He turned
on them, striking out with his right hand. (Surat as-Saffat, 88-93)
He broke them in pieces, except for the biggest one, so that they
would have it to consult! They said, 'Who has done this to our gods?
He is definitely one of the wrongdoers!' They said, 'We heard a young
man mentioning them. They call him Ibrahim.' They said, 'Bring him
before the people's eyes so they can be witnesses.' They said, 'Did you
do this to our gods, Ibrahim?' He said, 'No, this one, the biggest of
them, did it. Ask them if they are able to speak!' They consulted among
themselves and said, 'It is you yourselves who are wrongdoers.' But
then they relapsed back into their disbelief: 'You know full well these