Ibrahim (AS) invited, explained and used many different ways to convey his message. He made du’a to Allah (SWT) as well. After the incident at the temple, even though the people initially said that he was right, they said there was something wrong with what they had been doing. Faraj’a ilaa anfushim faqaaloo innakum antumuthaalimoon. They said this man is making a valid point, you are the ones making a mistake. If these gods were so powerful, then how come they could not defend themselves against the attack of one man. But then they came back, and they said he has not just hurt us or hurt our gods, but he has insulted our way of life. We must teach him a lesson. That was when that big fire was built and burnt, and Ibrahim (AS) was thrown. Now Ibrahim (AS) did not ask anyone for their help. In fact, he turned towards Allah (SWT) and said that whatever has happened, whatever he was going through, it was because of his effort to invite people towards Allah (SWT), so Allah (SWT) is responsible for him. And he simply hasbiyallahu wa ni’mal wakeel, Allah (SWT) was enough for me and he was the best one to trust. So, then Allah (SWT) intervened directly. Allah az-Zawjal also did not use anyone else to extinguish the fire, but rather he commanded the fire itself, yaa naaru koonee bardaw-wa salaaman ‘alaa ibrahim. “Become cold and become comfortable for Ibrahim (AS).” So indeed, the fire became cold, and the fire became comfortable. And when Ibrahim (AS) landed in the fire, it was perfectly fine. And he remained there for a long time, and it was because of this incident that Ibrahim (AS) obviously got a lot of attention and importance. And after spending some time in the fire he eventually came out, and he had a discussion with the ruler of that time. And that ruler felt that his kingdom was threatened, he engaged Ibrahim (AS) in a debate. Ibrahim (AS) told him you should believe in Allah (SWT), because Allah az-Zawjal is the one who controls life and death. So that king replied by saying, “No I also give life and death.” Qaala ana uhyee wa umeet. Ibrahim (AS) said rabbiyalladhee yuhyee wa yumeet, my lord is the one who gives everyone life, and he is the one who can take it away. The king said I can do the same thing. There was one person who was condemned to be, he was sentenced to be killed. And the king said, “No he is not going to be killed, set him free. Look I have given him life.” There was another person that was set to be released from jail. The king said, “No I want him killed.” He had him killed. “See I give death; I give life and I give death. So, if that is all your lord is doing, I am doing the same thing.” So, Ibrahim (AS) thought that this person is a very foolish person. He does not understand what it means to actually give life and take away life. Setting someone free is not giving them life. Who gave birth to them? The mother. Who created them in the womb of the mother? Allah (SWT). Who allowed them to come out alive? Allah (SWT). But this guy did not get it. So, Ibrahim (AS) used another example, a completely different one. Fa innallaha ya’ti bish-shamsi minal mashriqi fa’ti bihaa minal maghrib. You who are declaring himself to be the god of these people, the god of mankind, you try this. Allah (SWT) brings out the sun every single day from the east. If you’re the god, then show us you can do it differently, bring the sun out from the west. Make the sun rise from the west. Fa’ti bihaa minal maghrib, now he did not have an answer for that fabuhitalladhee kafr, he was left speechless. So, this was another one of the tests of Ibrahim (AS). The first, accepting his identity and allowing himself to be different in that society. Then telling people about his faith, inviting them towards Allah (SWT), going up against his father and trying to win his father over. Knowing that his father was rejecting him, and his father had literally disowned him. He said, “leave me alone otherwise I will have you stoned.” So, he lost the support of his community, he lost the support of his father. And then, the incident in the temple, he was thrown in the fire. Allah (SWT) was testing him. Who does Ibrahim (AS) turn towards? Where are his loyalties? Who does he remain attached to? Does he waver, does he shake, does he fall apart in the midst of all this? Or does he remain attached to Allah (SWT). So, Ibrahim (AS) continued to pass tests. Being thrown in the fire, he passed that test. And in front of the king, again he passed another test. So, this was a series of exams that Allah (SWT) gave Ibrahim (AS) not to test his knowledge but to test how strong his faith was, how strong his attachment was to Allah (SWT). It was a completely different type of test. So sometimes those kinds of tests will come our way as well, and they will be to test, to see how strong we are, how firm we are in our faith. May Allah (SWT) grant us all steadfastness.
