The Prophet's praise to Abraham (peace be upon him)

Praise be to Allah and peace be upon His Messenger, his family, his Companions, and those who follow him.

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that "When Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) came to Makkah, he refused to enter the Ka`bah with idols in it. He ordered (idols to be taken out). So they were taken out. The people took out the pictures of Abraham and Ishmael holding Azlams in their hands. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: May Allah curse these people. By Allah, both Abraham and Ishmael never did the game of chance with Azlams [1]. Then he entered the Ka`bah and said Takbir at its corners but did not offer the prayer in it."[2]

How weird! They dare to insult Abraham and his truthful son by putting them in this sinful image while they know for sure that Abraham and his son never used that method. Allah (may He be Exalted) gave Abraham his full sense since young age when he rebuked his father and his people for worshipping deaf and dumb idols that did not listen to the invocations of their worshippers, did not see them if they approach or leave, and did not possess benefit or harm to them.

How should people think of Abraham who only invoked his Lord when the angle came to ask him about his need when he was thrown into the blazing ditch, he said: Do you have a need? Abraham said: Allah is Sufficient for me and He is the Best Disposer of my affairs!

How should people ill-think of Abraham who devoted worship to Allah alone and continued to obey Allah: "When his Lord said to him, Submit (i.e. be a Muslim)! He said, I have submitted myself (as a Muslim) to the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 131]!

How should people think of Abraham who was a truthful and loyal servant of Allah, and Allah (Glory be to Him) praised him by saying: "And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (what Allah ordered him to do or convey)." [Surat An-Najm: 37]!

Imam Muslim reported on the authority of Jundub Al Bujaly that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has taken me as a close friend (Khalil) as He took Ibrahim as a close friend."[3]

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of `Amr ibn Maymun who said: "When Mu`adh arrived at Yemen, he led them (i.e. the people of Yemen) in the Fajr Salah wherein he recited: 'Allah took Abraham as a Khalil.' A man amongst the people said: "(How) glad the mother of Abraham is!" (In another narration) `Amr said: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Mu`adh to Yemen and he (led the people) in the Fajr prayer and recited: 'Allah took Abraham as a Khalil.' [Surat An-Nisa': 125]. A man behind him said: "(How) glad the mother of Abraham is!"[4]

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: "Who is the most honorable amongst the people (in Allah's Sight)? He said: The most righteous amongst them. They said: We do not ask you, about this. He said: Then Joseph, Allah's Prophet, the son of Allah's Prophet, The son of Allah's Prophet the son of Allah's Khalil (i.e. Abraham). They said: We do not want to ask about this, He said, Then you want to ask about the descent of the Arabs. Those who were the best in the Pre-Islamic Period of ignorance will be the best in Islam provided they comprehend the religious knowledge."[5]

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar who said that Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The honorable, the son of the honorable the son of the honorable, i.e. Joseph, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham."[6]

Imam Muslim reported on the authority of Anas ibn Malik: "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: O best of creation! The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: That is Ibrahim [7]."[8]

Al Hafizh Ibn Kathir (may Allah be merciful with him) said: This is part of his modesty and good manner with his father Abraham (peace be upon him), and as he said: "Do not give me preference over Prophets." And said: "Do not give me superiority over the other prophets, for on the Day of Resurrection the people will become unconscious and I will be the first to regain consciousness. Then I will see Moses holding one of the legs of the Throne. I will not know whether he has come to his senses before me or that the shock he had received at the Mountain, (during his worldly life) was sufficient for him."[9] This does not contradict authentic Hadiths which stated his priority over all Prophets and proved his superiority over the children of Adam until the Day of Recompense.

When Abraham (peace be upon him) was one of the best Messengers after the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded Muslims to praise him in Tashahud as was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim from the Hadith of Ka`b ibn `Ujrah in which he said: "We said: O Messenger of Allah! We know what it means to send greetings upon you, but what does it mean to send peace and blessings upon you? He said: Say: Allahumma salli `Ala Muhammad (peace be upon him) in `Abdika wa Rasulika kama salayta `Ala Ibrahima, wa barik `Ala Muhammad (peace be upon him) (wa `Ala ali Muhammad (peace be upon him)in) kama barakta `Ala Ibrahima [O Allah, send Your grace, honor and mercy upon Muhammad (peace be upon him), Your slave and Messenger, as You sent Your (grace, honour and mercy) upon Ibrahim, and send Your blessings upon Muhammad (peace be upon him) (and the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him)) as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim]."[10] [11]

Al Bukhari reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Al Hasan and Al Husayn and say: Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye." [12] [13]

At-Tirmidhy reported on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "I met Ibrahim on the night of Mi`raj (ascension to the heavens) and he said to me: O Muhammad! convey to your nation Salam from me and inform them that paradise has an excellent soil and sweet water, and is an even plain and its trees are: Glorified be Allah and praise be to Allah and there is no God but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest." [14]