Ibrāhīm Confronts His Father

Now to verse 74, which is the account of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him). After all this reflection, argument and evidence, Allah says:

Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) confronts his father, Āzar, saying: do you take these idols as gods? I see you and your people in plain error. Even one's own father. There is a difference of opinion as to whether this was his uncle or his true father; either way it makes no difference. Even if it be one's own father.

And then Allah speaks of the whole matter of reflecting upon the heavens and the earth:

We showed Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. Generally the mulk is defined as that which may be seen, and the malakūt as that part of Allah's creation which may not be seen, such as the angels and the unseen realities. Such is mulk and malakūt, generally; though the two are sometimes used in the same sense.

There follows the whole account, which most will know, of his determining a way to find God — the evidence for it. There is nothing to show that he did not know God already; it seems rather that this may be a theological exercise. Allah knows best. He certainly had discernment: one may tell it from his escaping his father, from his leaving them and departing, and from Allah's showering him with great beliefs — for these come through sacrifice. When a man makes sacrifice for his dīn, it may be hard. Consider what it is to leave one's family, one's district, one's home town, and travel elsewhere. And he becomes one of the greatest of the prophets. After Muḥammad (peace be upon him), the greatest of the prophets is Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him): greater than Ādam and Nūḥ (peace be upon them) and all the rest. And that does not come easily; it comes with sacrifice. Do not, therefore, leave off a thing because it demands sacrifice and hardship. If a man suffers Islamophobic attacks, and feels everyone set against him, that is hardship; but such is life. Our true life is the Hereafter. All these hardships will, in shāʾ Allāh, only drive a man forward. Remember the account of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him).