The people of Ur decided to give Abraham the worst
punishment they could find: he was to be burnt to death. On
the chosen day all the people gathered in the centre of the city
and even the King of Ur was there. Abraham was then placed
inside a special building filled with wood. The wood was lit.
Soon the fire became so strong that the people were pushed
back by the flames. But Allah said: “O fire, be coolness and
peace for Abraham”. (Koran xxi.69)
The people waited until the fire had completely died down,
and it was then that they saw Abraham still sitting there as
though nothing had happened! At that moment they were
utterly confused. They were not, however, moved by the
miracle that had just happened before their very eyes.
Still Abraham tried to persuade his own dear father, who was
named Azar, not to worship powerless, un-seeing, un-hearing
statues. Abraham explained that special knowledge had come
to him and implored his father, 'So follow me and I will lead
you on the right path. 0 my father! Don't serve the Devil.' But
Azar would not listen. He threatened his son with stoning if he
continued to reject the gods of Ur. He ordered Abraham to
leave the city with these words: 'Depart from me a long while.'
Abraham said, 'Peace be upon you! I shall ask my Lord's
forgiveness for you. Surely He was ever gracious to me.’
(Koran xix.43-7)
Imagine how terrible it must have been for him to leave his
home, his family and all that he knew, and set out across the
wilderness into the unknown. But at the same time, how could
he have remained among people who did not believe in Allah
and who worshipped statues? Abraham always had a sense
that Allah cared for him and he felt Allah near him as he
traveled. At last, after a long hard journey, he arrived at a
place by the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Egypt. There he
married a noble woman by the name of Sarah and settled in
the land of Palestine. Many years passed but Abraham and his
wife were not blessed with any children. In the hope that there
would be a child, and in keeping with tradition, Sarah
suggested that Abraham should marry Hagar, her Egyptian
handmaid. Soon after this took place, Hagar had a little boy
punishment they could find: he was to be burnt to death. On
the chosen day all the people gathered in the centre of the city
and even the King of Ur was there. Abraham was then placed
inside a special building filled with wood. The wood was lit.
Soon the fire became so strong that the people were pushed
back by the flames. But Allah said: “O fire, be coolness and
peace for Abraham”. (Koran xxi.69)
The people waited until the fire had completely died down,
and it was then that they saw Abraham still sitting there as
though nothing had happened! At that moment they were
utterly confused. They were not, however, moved by the
miracle that had just happened before their very eyes.
Still Abraham tried to persuade his own dear father, who was
named Azar, not to worship powerless, un-seeing, un-hearing
statues. Abraham explained that special knowledge had come
to him and implored his father, 'So follow me and I will lead
you on the right path. 0 my father! Don't serve the Devil.' But
Azar would not listen. He threatened his son with stoning if he
continued to reject the gods of Ur. He ordered Abraham to
leave the city with these words: 'Depart from me a long while.'
Abraham said, 'Peace be upon you! I shall ask my Lord's
forgiveness for you. Surely He was ever gracious to me.’
(Koran xix.43-7)
Imagine how terrible it must have been for him to leave his
home, his family and all that he knew, and set out across the
wilderness into the unknown. But at the same time, how could
he have remained among people who did not believe in Allah
and who worshipped statues? Abraham always had a sense
that Allah cared for him and he felt Allah near him as he
traveled. At last, after a long hard journey, he arrived at a
place by the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Egypt. There he
married a noble woman by the name of Sarah and settled in
the land of Palestine. Many years passed but Abraham and his
wife were not blessed with any children. In the hope that there
would be a child, and in keeping with tradition, Sarah
suggested that Abraham should marry Hagar, her Egyptian
handmaid. Soon after this took place, Hagar had a little boy