by Tahmina Sattar

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 02, 2009

The story of the prophet Ibrahim is one of courage, constancy and sacrifice. This story carries many different forms amongst three of the world's major religions- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, for Muslims, the story of the prophet Ibrahim's life carries a special significance in the rational belief of the creator and in the rituals of worship.

As a child Ibrahim used to look upon the idols his father and his community revered with great puzzlement. Why, he wondered, did they worship these objects that they themselves had created from clay with their own hands? His father was a maker and seller of idols, in all shapes and sizes. Ibrahim often played with these idols as toys. Yet the people would ask favours from these motionless deities.They would place offerings of food in hope of receiving blessings from these speechless sculptures.

Ibrahim could not find any quality or attribute worthy of worship in these man made idols. He was a thoughtful child, and pondered to who and what was truly worthy of worship. He observed the stars, the moon, and the sun. All these wondrous elements had their limitations. Ibrahim knew in his heart that the true Creator could have no limitations. It was in that incredible moment of discovery that his Creator orders Ibrahim to "bow thy will to me"(Quran, Surah 2, verse 131). Thereafter, Ibrahim sets out to share his knowledge of monotheism with his people.

In the Quran, surah 21 verses 51-70, it is narrated as to how Ibrahim questioned the blind worship of these idols. The people stood by their beliefs- it was what their forefathers had worshipped. Ibrahim made a plan to make them understand what he felt was a faith of ignorance. One special day when the whole town had left for a celebration elsewhere, Ibrahim stayed behind to work on proving his point. He went to the quiet area where all the statues had been erected, plates of carefully arranged food left them. Ibrahim spoke to the idols, asking them to eat. When they did not reply he took an axe and broke all of these deaf and dumb gods. All but one. Around the neck of the largest idol, Ibrahim left the axe hanging and waited for the return of his people.

The people were in great shock which turned into anger at the discovery of their fallen idols. They grabbed Ibrahim and questioned him as to the destruction of their gods. Ibrahim pointed them towards their largest idol and the tell tale axe. This idol, he reasoned with them, must know the truth, being the only

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