Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) – Part 1
The lineage of Hazrat Ibrahim is: Ibrahim bin Tarah bin Nahor bin
Sarugh bin Reu bin Peleg bin Eber bin Shelah bin Arphaxad bin Sam bin Nuh
(Peace be upon him). This is how it is written in the book of the People of the
Book, the Bible. Along with the names, according to their account, we have also
noted the ages of these personalities.
Allah Ta‘ala says: _And when Ibrahim said to his father Azar, “Do
you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest
error.”_ From this it is known that Ibrahim’s father’s name was Azar. Hazrat
Abdullah bin Abbas and most scholars say his name was Tarah. The People of the
Book call him Tarih. Some scholars said Azar was the name of the idol he
worshipped, and for that reason he too was called Azar. Ibn Asakir narrated from
Hazrat Ikrimah (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: The kunya of Hazrat
Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) was Abu Zayfan — the one hospitable to guests, the
host to guests.[mention]
Historians say that Tarah was 75 years old when Ibrahim was born
to him. Besides him, he had other sons, and Haran was his son. And Haran’s son
was Lut (Peace be upon him). Historians also say that Hazrat Ibrahim was the
middle son of his father. Haran died during his father’s lifetime in the same
region where he was born — that was the land of the Chaldeans, that is, the
land of Babylon. This is well-known among the historians of the Muslims. Ibn
Ishaq (may Allah have mercy on him), while confirming this, also said: The
correct view is that you were born in Babylon.
The appearance of Hazrat Ibrahim
It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas that the Messenger
of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I saw Isa ibn
Maryam, Musa, and Ibrahim (Peace be upon them). Isa (Peace be upon him) had a
reddish complexion, curly hair, and a broad chest. And Musa (Peace be upon him)
was wheat-colored with a stout body.” The Companions asked, “And Ibrahim (Peace
be upon him)?” The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Look at your companion
Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).”
Historians say Hazrat Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) married Hazrat
Sarah (Peace be upon her). Hazrat Sarah (Peace be upon her) was barren; she had
no children. Tarah took his son Ibrahim (Peace be upon him), his wife Hazrat Sarah
(Peace be upon her), and his nephew Lut, and set out from the land of the
Chaldeans toward the region of the Canaanites. Those people settled in the
place of Haran. Tarah died there at the age of 250. From this it is known that
Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) was not born in Haran, but rather in the land of
the Chaldeans, which comprised the areas near Babylon.
Then they set out toward the land of the Canaanites — this is the
area of Bait-ul-Muqaddas. On the way they stayed in Haran, which at that time
was part of the land of the Chaldeans. They also stayed in Jazira and Shaam.
These people worshipped the seven stars. Those who founded the city of Damascus
were also followers of this religion. Facing the North Pole, they worshipped
the seven stars with various words and rituals.[Syria]
This is why on each of the old gates of Damascus there was a
structure for star worship. They would celebrate festivals in their names and
offer sacrifices. Similarly, the people of Haran worshipped stars and idols. In
fact, apart from Ibrahim Khalilullah (Peace be upon him), his respected wife,
and his nephew Lut (Peace be upon him), the people of the entire world were
disbelievers
Allah Ta‘ala had blessed him from childhood with sound intellect
and right guidance. And when he grew up, He made him a messenger and bestowed
upon him the rank of Khalil.[Friend]
_Source: Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, Imam Ibn Kathir_
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