Page 48 - Perished Nations

additions and deletions in accordance with this belief. This is why Ibrahim
(as) is merely depicted as the ancestor of the Jews in the Old Testament.
Christians who believe in the Old Testament, think that Ibrahim (as) is
the ancestor of the Jews, but with only one difference: according to
Christians, Ibrahim (as) is not a Jew but a Christian. The Christians, who
did not heed the concept of race as much as Jews, took this stand and it
is one of the causes of disagreement and struggle between the two reli-
gions. The dispute between Jews and Christians is reported as follows in
the Qur'an:
Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Ibrahim, when the Law and
the Gospel Were not revealed Till after him? Have ye no understanding?
Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (Even) in matters of which ye had
some knowledge! but why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no
knowledge? It is Allah Who knows, and ye who know not!
Ibrahim was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and
bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with
Allah.
Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Ibrahim, are those who
follow him, as are also this Prophet and those who believe: And Allah is
the Protector of those who have faith. (Surah Al-Imran: 65-68)
In the Qur’an, in contrast to what is written in the Old Testament,
Ibrahim (as) is a person who warned his people so that they might fear
Allah and who struggled against them for this end. Starting from his youth,
he warned his people, who worshipped idols, to give up this practice. His
people reacted to Ibrahim (as) by attempting to kill him. Having escaped
from the wickedness of his people, Ibrahim (as) finally emigrated.

Harun Yahya
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