Reply to post #32
Of course.Fooloso4 wrote:I would be glad to discuss it with you, only I will not sit through an hour plus video as a precondition of that discussion. Give us a short summary.
The Creator, The Almighty has already provided the summary in the Holy Quran, so I will be quoting a translation of His Words directly.
Recapitulating my previous post to you, I had asked you in post # 28, the following:
To consider the arguments which Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) has with (1) his father, (2) his people, (3) people to whom he is sent to preach pure monotheism and (4) the argument which he (pbuh) has with king Nimrod.
1. Argument which Prophet Abraham (pbuh) has with his father:
Allah, The All-Knowing says in the Holy Quran:
- And mention in the Book Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth, a Prophet.
When he said to his father, "O my father! Why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and does not benefit you in anything?
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.
O my father! Do not worship Shaitaan. Indeed, Shaitaan is disobedient to the Most Gracious.
O my father! Indeed, I fear that a punishment will touch you from the Most Gracious, so you would be a friend to Shaitaan."
He (his father) said, "Do you hate my gods, O Abraham? If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so leave me for a prolonged time." [Holy Quran 19:41-46]
(i) Argument 1:
Allah, The All-Knowing says in the Holy Quran:
- And recite to them the news of Abraham,
When he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?"
They said, "We worship idols, and we will remain devoted to them."
He said, "Do they hear you when you call?"
They say, "Nay, but we found our forefathers doing so."
He said, "Do you see what you have been worshipping,
You and your forefathers.
Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds,
The One Who created me, and it is He Who guides me.
And the One Who gives me food and drink.
And when I am ill, He cures me,
And the One Who will cause me to die, then give me life,
And the One Who, I hope, will forgive me for my faults on the Day of Judgement." [Quran 26: 69-82]
Allah, The All-Knowing says in the Holy Quran:
- And indeed, among his kind was Abraham,
When he came to his Lord with a sound heart,
When he said to his people, "What do you worship?
Is it falsehood-gods other than Allah-that you desire?
Then What do you think about the Lord of the worlds?"
Then he cast a glance at the stars,
And he said, "Indeed, I am sick."
So they turned away from him, departing. [Quran 37: 83-90]
- Then he(Abraham) turned to their gods and said, "Do you not eat?
What is (the matter) with you that you do not speak?"
Then he turned upon them, striking with his right hand. [Holy Quran 37:91-93]
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
- So he made them into pieces except a large one of them, so that they may return to it. [Holy Quran 21:58]
And when the people came back, they brought Prophet Abraham(pbuh) to question him:
- They said, "Who has done this to our gods? Indeed, he is of the wrongdoers?"
They said, "We heard a youth mention them who is called Abraham."
They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, so that they may bear witness."
They said, "Have you done this to our gods, O Abraham?"
He said, "Nay, (some doer) did it. This is their chief. So ask them if they can speak."
So they returned to themselves and said (to each other), "Indeed, you are the wrongdoers."
Then they reversed (saying), "Verily, you know these cannot speak!"
He said, "Then do you worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all nor harms you?
Uff to you and to what you worship besides Allah. Then will you not use reason?"
They said, ”Burn him and support your gods, if you are to act.” [Quran 21:59-68]
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) passed by Harran: nowadays corresponding to the regions of Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. And he (pbuh) stopped there and started to call these people who were star worshipers to the religion of the pure monotheism of Islam. Consider, the approach of Prophet Abraham (pbuh),i.e. how he proceeded to bring the people of Harran to reason and use their intellect, and little by little trying to bring them to strict and pure monotheism.
To prove his point, that stars could not be worshiped, he proceeded by reasoning with them.
Allah, the All-Knowing narrates the story thus;
- So when the night covered him, he saw a star. He said, “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said, “I do not like the ones that set.”
When he saw the moon rising, he said, “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will surely be among the people who went astray.”
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 of what you associate (with Allah).”
Indeed, I have turned my face to the One Who created the heavens and the earth as a true monotheist, and I am not of those who associate partners with Allah.[Holy Quran 6:76-79]
Allah, The All-Knowing narrates:
- And his people argued with him. He said, “Do you argue with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I do not fear what you associate with Him, unless my Lord wills something. My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; then will you not take heed?
And how could I fear what you associate while you do not fear that you have associated with Allah that for which He did not send down to you any authority. So which of the two parties has more right to security, if you know.” [Holy Quran 6:80-81]
Then Allah, The All-Wise says something that needs one to ponder;
- Those who believe and do not mix their belief with wrong, those will have security, and they are rightly guided. [Holy Quran 6:82]
- And this is Our argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.[Holy Quran 6:83]
Allah, The All-Wise says,
- He grants wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom, then certainly he has been granted abundant good. And none remembers it except those of understanding. [Holy Quran 2:269]
Nimrod was a tyrant king, who considered himself to be god, in the times of Prophet Abraham(pbuh). When he heard the story of how, God, The Almighty had saved Prophet Abraham(pbuh) from the fire, he ordered his guards to bring Prophet Abraham to him, and then he argued with him.
Allah, the All-Knowing says in the Quran:
- Are you not aware of the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had given him the Kingdom? When Abraham said, “My Lord is the One Who-grants life and causes death.” He said, “I too give life and cause death.”[Holy Quran 2:258]
- Abraham said, “Indeed, Allah brings up the sun from the east, so you bring it up from the west.” So the disbeliever became dumbfounded, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. [Holy Quran 2:258]
When one ponders on the story of Prophet Abraham(pbuh), one observes that he produced powerful arguments to his people, and most times the response was aggressive and futile argumentation. The cognitive dissonance and confusion of the people is a recurring happening. Please, if anything is not clear, you can ask for some precision.
____________________________