Abraham, friend of God: the cards as text

Stories. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.

1. Card 1

   A young man watched a star set, and reasoned his way to God.

2. Card 2

   A star, a moon, a sun

   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.

3. Card 3

   Qur'an 6:76-79

   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.”

4. Card 4

   Lesson: Anything that sets cannot be God.

5. Card 5

   The broken idols

   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.

6. Card 6

   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!”

7. Card 7

   Lesson: Abraham used his people's own logic against their idols.

8. Card 8

   The fire made cool

   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.

9. Card 9

   Qur'an 21:69

   قُلۡنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِي بَرۡدࣱا وَسَلَٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ ۝٦٩

   ⁶⁹ We said, “O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham.”

10. Card 10

    Lesson: The fire they lit for Abraham was told: "Be coolness and safety."

11. Card 11

    The son and the sacrifice

    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.

12. Card 12

    Qur'an 37:102-107

    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.”

13. Card 13

    Lesson: Both father and son submitted, and neither was harmed.

14. Card 14

    Building the House

    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.

15. Card 15

    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.

16. Card 16

    Lesson: Every Muslim prayer faces the house Abraham built.

17. Card 17

    Reflect: Which son do most Muslim scholars say Abraham was asked to sacrifice?

    Answer: Ishmael. Most Muslim scholars say Ishmael, though the Qur'an does not name him in this passage. Genesis names Isaac.

18. Card 18

    The end of Abraham, friend of God.

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