Page 43 - The Importance of Following the Good Word

Remember when he [Ibrahim] said to his father,
"Father, why do you worship what can neither hear
nor see and is not of any use to you at all?
Father, knowledge which never reached you has come
to me, so follow me and I will guide you to the right
path.
Father, do not worship Satan. Satan was disobedient
to the All-Merciful.
Father, I am afraid that a punishment from the All-
Merciful will afflict you, and turn you into a comrade
of Satan."
He said, "Do you forsake my gods, Ibrahim? If you do
not stop, I will stone you. Keep away from me for a
good long time."
He said, "Peace be upon you. I will ask my Lord to for-
give you. He has always honored me.
I will separate myself from you and all you call upon
besides Allah and I will call upon my Lord. It may
well be that, in calling on my Lord, I will not be dis-
appointed." (Surah Maryam, 42-48)
There is only one reason why his father became so antag-
onistic towards Ibrahim, otherwise a prophet of great moral
excellence, mentioned in the Qur'an as tender-hearted and
forbearing: Prophet Ibrahim's (as) summoning him to be-
come a servant of Allah, that is, his call through the good
word... Prophet Ibrahim (as) addressed his father respect-
fully and in a beautiful manner, but his father nevertheless
reacted against him with furious anger. Despite this, the
Prophet Ibrahim (as) never altered his tone, and departed hon-
orably from his father.

Complying with the Good Word 41