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Thinking, asking, trusting

The story of Ibrahim

Ibrahim is the prophet the Qur'an shows us thinking. He looked at the sky, asked questions, and would not worship anything that fades. These six lessons follow the Qur'anic account only, with every ayah shown from the verified Uthmani text.

Cream clay night sky arch with small gold clay stars above a sage clay hill
Small gold clay star, crescent and sun shapes resting on a sage clay dish

Lesson 1 · Nothing that fades is God · ages 5-7

Looking for the true Lord

Ibrahim looked at a star, then the moon, then the sun. Each one set, so he knew none of them could be his Lord.

  1. He watched the sky

    The Qur'an tells us Ibrahim saw a star and thought carefully about it.

  2. It disappeared

    When it set, he said he does not love things that disappear.

  3. Then the moon, then the sun

    He tested each one the same way, and each one set.

  4. He chose the One who made them

    He turned to the One who created the heavens and the earth.

  5. Thinking is worship too

    Ibrahim used his mind to find the truth, and Allah tells us his words in the Qur'an.

Surah Al-An'aam · 6:76

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًۭا ۖ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْءَافِلِينَ

Falammaa janna 'alaihil lailu ra aa kawkabaan qaala haaza Rabbee falammaaa afala qaala laaa uhibbul aafileen

“So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear."”

Surah Al-An'aam · 6:78

فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةًۭ قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّى هَٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

Falammmaa ra ashshamsa baazighatan qaala haazaa Rabbee haazaaa akbaru falammaaa afalat qaala yaa qawmi innee bareee'um mimmaa tushrikoon

“And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah.”

Surah Al-An'aam · 6:79

إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Innnee wajjahtu wajhiya lillazee fataras samaawaati wal arda haneefanw wa maaa ana minal mushrikeen

“Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah."”

Do this before next time

Go outside at night with a grown-up. Name three things in the sky, then say together: Allah made all of it.

Two cream clay speech bubbles, one small and one large, on a sage clay base with a gold rim

Lesson 2 · Gentle words, strong truth · ages 5-7

Speaking kindly to his father

Ibrahim disagreed with his father about worship, but he never stopped being polite. He kept calling him 'O my father'.

  1. He began with respect

    Every time Ibrahim spoke to his father in Surah Maryam he said 'O my father'.

  2. He asked, he did not shout

    He asked why his father worshipped what cannot hear or see or help.

  3. He offered to help

    Ibrahim said he had knowledge that came to him and offered to guide his father.

  4. He kept his manners when refused

    When his father spoke harshly, Ibrahim answered with 'peace be upon you'.

  5. He still made dua for him

    He said he would ask his Lord's forgiveness for him.

Surah Maryam · 19:42

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَٰٓأَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِى عَنكَ شَيْـًۭٔا

Iz qaala li abeehi yaaa abati lima ta'budu maa laa yasma'u wa laa yubsiru wa laa yughnee 'anka shai'aa

“[Mention] when he said to his father, "O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?”

Surah Maryam · 19:43

يَٰٓأَبَتِ إِنِّى قَدْ جَآءَنِى مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَٱتَّبِعْنِىٓ أَهْدِكَ صِرَٰطًۭا سَوِيًّۭا

Yaaa abati innee qad jaaa'anee minal 'ilmi maa lam yaatika fattabi'neee ahdika siraatan Sawiyyaa

“O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.”

Surah Maryam · 19:47

قَالَ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكَ ۖ سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّىٓ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِى حَفِيًّۭا

Qaala salaamun 'alaika sa astaghfiru laka Rabbeee innahoo kaana bee hafiyyaa

“[Abraham] said, "Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.”

Do this before next time

Next time you disagree with someone at home, start your sentence with a kind word before you explain.

Row of small blank cream clay statues toppled over on a sage clay shelf

Lesson 3 · Standing alone for the truth · ages 8-11

The idols that could not help

Ibrahim's people worshipped statues they had carved themselves. He asked them one simple question they could not answer.

  1. The question

    He asked his people and his father what these statues were that they were devoted to.

  2. They only had habit

    Their answer was that they found their fathers doing it.

  3. Do they hear you?

    Ibrahim asked whether the idols hear when they are called, or help, or harm.

  4. They admitted the truth

    The Qur'an records that they said they only found their fathers doing so.

  5. Truth is not a head count

    Ibrahim stood alone against everyone, because being right matters more than being popular.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:52

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِۦ مَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَٰكِفُونَ

Iz qaala li abeehi wa qawmihee maa haazihit tamaaseelul lateee antum lahee 'aakifoon

“When he said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoted?"”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:53

قَالُوا۟ وَجَدْنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا لَهَا عَٰبِدِينَ

Qaaloo wajadnaaa aabaaa'anaa lahaa 'aabideen

“They said, "We found our fathers worshippers of them."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:66

قَالَ أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ

Qaala afata'budoona min doonil laahi maa laa yanfa'ukum shai'anw wa laa yadurrukum

“He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you?”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:67

أُفٍّۢ لَّكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Uffil lakum wa limaa ta'budoona min doonil laah; afalaa ta'qiloon

“Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allah. Then will you not use reason?"”

Do this before next time

Write down one thing people around you do that you would not do, and one polite sentence explaining why.

Cool sage clay flame shapes with gold tips curling around a cream clay circle

Lesson 4 · Allah protects His own · ages 8-11

The fire that did not burn

His people lit a huge fire for him. Allah commanded the fire itself to be cool and safe for Ibrahim.

  1. They planned harm

    The Qur'an says they wanted to burn him because of what he had done to the idols.

  2. Allah spoke to the fire

    Allah said: 'O fire, be coolness and safety for Ibrahim.'

  3. Fire obeys its Maker

    Fire burns only because Allah allows it to; that day He told it not to.

  4. The plotters lost

    The Qur'an says Allah made them the greatest losers.

  5. What this teaches us

    When you obey Allah, nothing can harm you except by His permission.

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:68

قَالُوا۟ حَرِّقُوهُ وَٱنصُرُوٓا۟ ءَالِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَٰعِلِينَ

Qaaloo harriqooho wansurooo aalihatakum in kuntum faa'ileen

“They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you are to act."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:69

قُلْنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًۭا وَسَلَٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ

Qulnaa yaa naaru koonee bardanw wa salaaman 'alaaa Ibraaheem

“Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."”

Surah Al-Anbiyaa · 21:70

وَأَرَادُوا۟ بِهِۦ كَيْدًۭا فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْأَخْسَرِينَ

Wa araadoo bihee kaidan faja'alnaahumul akhsareen

“And they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers.”

Surah Aal-i-Imraan · 3:173

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَٰنًۭا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ

Allazeena qaala lahumun naasu innan naasa qad jama'oo lakum fakhshawhuin fazaadahum eemaannanwa wa qaaloo hasbunal laahu wa ni'malwakeel

“Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."”

Do this before next time

Learn this short phrase and say it when you feel scared: Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel.

Small cream clay cube with a gold clay band on a sage clay desert base

Lesson 5 · Work hard, then ask Allah to accept it · ages 8-11

Building the Kabah with Ismail

Ibrahim and his son Ismail raised the walls of the Kabah, and while working they asked Allah to accept it from them.

  1. Father and son together

    The Qur'an describes Ibrahim raising the foundations of the House with Ismail.

  2. Their dua while working

    They said: 'Our Lord, accept from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.'

  3. They asked for obedient hearts

    They asked Allah to make them submit to Him and to make their children the same.

  4. A dua for the city

    Ibrahim asked Allah to make the valley safe and to provide for the people there.

  5. Muslims still face it

    The building they raised is the direction of prayer for the whole ummah today.

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:127

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَٰهِۦمُ ٱلْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

Wa iz yarfa'u Ibraaheemul qawaa'ida minal Baitiwa Ismaa'eelu Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa innaka Antas Samee'ul Aleem

“And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], "Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:128

رَبَّنَا وَٱجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَآ أُمَّةًۭ مُّسْلِمَةًۭ لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

Rabbanaa waj'alnaa muslimaini laka wa min zurriyyatinaaa ummatam muslimatal laka wa arinaa manaasikanaa wa tub 'alainaa innaka antat Tawwaabur Raheem

“Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.”

Surah Ibrahim · 14:37

رَّبَّنَآ إِنِّىٓ أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِى بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِى زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ ٱلْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱجْعَلْ أَفْـِٔدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ تَهْوِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ وَٱرْزُقْهُم مِّنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ

Rabbanaaa inneee askantu min zurriyyatee biwaadin ghairi zee zar'in 'inda Baitikal Muharrami Rabbanaa liyuqeemus Salaata faj'al af'idatam minan naasi tahweee ilaihim warzuqhum minas samaraati la'allahum yashkuroon

“Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.”

Do this before next time

Build something small with your hands today, and when you finish say: Rabbana taqabbal minna.

Two cream clay hands of a scale balanced with a gold clay heart on a sage clay stand

Lesson 6 · A whole life of saying yes · ages 12-15

Khalilullah — the friend of Allah

Allah gave Ibrahim a title no one else is given in the Qur'an: khalil, close friend. It came from a lifetime of obedience.

  1. The title

    Allah says He took Ibrahim as a khalil — a close, chosen friend.

  2. Why him

    The ayah links it to doing good and submitting his face wholly to Allah.

  3. He submitted at once

    When his Lord said 'submit', he answered: 'I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.'

  4. A nation in one man

    Allah describes Ibrahim as a whole nation, obedient and upright.

  5. We follow his way

    The Qur'an calls us to the religion of Ibrahim, who was upright and never a polytheist.

Surah An-Nisaa · 4:125

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًۭا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًۭا

Wa man ahsanu deenam mimmman aslama wajhahoo lillaahi wa huwa muhsinunw wattaba'a Millata Ibraaheema haneefaa; wattakhazal laahu Ibraaheema khaleelaa

“And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.”

Surah Al-Baqara · 2:131

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

Iz qaala lahoo Rabbuhooo aslim qaala aslamtu li Rabbil 'aalameen

“When his Lord said to him, "Submit", he said "I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds."”

Surah An-Nahl · 16:120

إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةًۭ قَانِتًۭا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًۭا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Inna Ibraaheema kaana ummatan qaanital lillaahi Haneefanw wa lam yakuminal mushrikeen

“Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah.”

Surah An-Nahl · 16:123

ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ ٱتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًۭا ۖ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Summma awhainaa ilaika anit tabi' Millata Ibraaheema haneefaa; wa maa kaana minal mushrikeen

“Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of those who associate with Allah.”

Do this before next time

Pick one thing Allah asked of you that you delay. Do it today without arguing with yourself.

Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path

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