On the way from Babylon to Palestine, Ibrahim (AS) met a group of people who worshipped stars instead of God the One. Having knowledge of the deviation of those people, Ibrahim (AS) wanted to guide them to the worship of God and save them from depravity. As it is the way of the prophets to use kindness, gentleness, and tolerance in guiding ignorant and misled people, Ibrahim (AS) used a special method in this instance. He first agreed with their religion while, in the meantime, he shattered the foundations of their beliefs. When night fell and darkness covered every place and the shining stars appeared in the sky, Ibrahim (P.B.UH) said, in agreement with those people, ‘This star is my god. “After some hours, the stars set and disappeared from sight. Ibrahim (AS) said, “I don’t like a god that sets.”
After a while, the moon rose from the horizon and threw light everywhere. Ibrahim (P.B.UH) took a look at the moon and, since he realised that the people were staring at him, he said, “This is my god because it is bigger than that star.” The moon also set after some time, and Ibrahim (AS) said, “If my Lord guides me not, certainly I will be among those who go astray.”
That night ended and the shining sun rose, in perfect beauty, from the East. Ibrahim (AS) looked at the splendour and radiance of the sun and said, “This is my god; this is bigger than and superior to all the stars.”
When the day ended, the sun, like the moon and the stars, disappeared from sight. Ibrahim (AS) expressed his aversion to polytheism and idolatry, saying, “I am weary of these beings which constantly change and are subject to different states. I turn to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all the creatures. I worship only Him, and I am not among the polytheists.”
In this way, Ibrahim (AS) completed his reasoning and directed the people toward the True Deity. The ignorant people, instead of welcoming his guidance and accepting it whole – heatedly, began to argue and dispute with him. Ibrahim said, “Do you dispute with me about God? God has guided me to the right path.”
When the people saw that their altercation had no effect on Ibrahim (AS), and that Ibrahim didn’t stop worshipping God, they threatened him with the wrath of the stars. Ibrahim (AS) looked upon these threats with scorn, because it was clear to him that there is no god but God the One, that the stars are beings lacking will and are under the Command of the God of the heavens and the earth. 1
- Stories of the Prophets, Rafed Network for Cultural Development[↩]
