Stories
The young man who broke the idols
A young man watched a star set, and reasoned his way to God.
6 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 5
Seeing a star, the young Abraham said: this is my Lord. When it set, he said: I do not love things that set. The moon, then the sun, the same. Then: I turn my face to the One who made the heavens and earth.
Qur'an 6:76
فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيۡهِ ٱلَّيۡلُ رَءَا كَوۡكَبࣱاۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّيۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلۡأٓفِلِينَ ٧٦
76 When the night grew dark upon him, he saw a star and said, “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said, “I do not like those that set.”
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
Anything that sets cannot be God.
Part 2 of 5
Then Abraham goes from words to action. While his people are away, he breaks their idols, leaving only the biggest. Asked who did it, he says: this biggest one did it, so ask them, if they can speak.
Qur'an 21:62-63
قَالُوٓاْ ءَأَنتَ فَعَلۡتَ هَٰذَا بِـَٔالِهَتِنَا يَٰٓإِبۡرَٰهِيمُ ٦٢ قَالَ بَلۡ فَعَلَهُۥ كَبِيرُهُمۡ هَٰذَا فَسۡـَٔلُوهُمۡ إِن كَانُواْ يَنطِقُونَ ٦٣
62 They said, “Are you the one who did this to our gods, O Abraham?”
63 He said, “Rather, it was this biggest one who did it. So ask them, if they can speak!”
Lesson
Abraham used his people's own logic against their idols.
Part 3 of 5
Abraham's people are enraged. They build a great fire and throw him in. God commands: O fire, be coolness and safety for Abraham. He walks out unharmed.
Qur'an 21:69
قُلۡنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِي بَرۡدࣱا وَسَلَٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ٦٩
69 We said, “O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham.”
Lesson
The fire they lit for Abraham was told: "Be coolness and safety."
Part 4 of 5
Years later, Abraham dreams he is sacrificing his son. He tells him. Do as you are commanded, the son says. As he prepares, God calls out and ransoms the boy with a great sacrifice.
Qur'an 37:102
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعۡيَ قَالَ يَٰبُنَيَّ إِنِّيٓ أَرَىٰ فِي ٱلۡمَنَامِ أَنِّيٓ أَذۡبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرَىٰۚ قَالَ يَٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُۖ سَتَجِدُنِيٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ١٠٢
102 Then when he reached the age where he could work with him, Abraham said, “O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. What do you think?” He said, “O my dear father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, one of the steadfast.”
The passage continues in Read.
Lesson
Both father and son submitted, and neither was harmed.
Part 5 of 5
The last scene is in Makkah. With Ishmael, Abraham raised the foundations of the Ka'bah, praying: our Lord, accept this from us. Muslims face that house in every prayer.
Qur'an 2:127
وَإِذۡ يَرۡفَعُ إِبۡرَٰهِـۧمُ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلۡ مِنَّآۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ١٢٧
127 And [remember] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and Ishmael, [saying], “Our Lord, accept this from us, for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Lesson
Every Muslim prayer faces the house Abraham built.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A young man watched a star set, and reasoned his way to God.