How it All Began

          Nearly four thousand years ago, in the Sumerian town of Ur in the valley of the river Euphrates, lived a young man named Abraham. The people of Ur had worshipped Allah but as time passed they forgot of the true religion and started praying to idols, statues made of wood or clay and sometimes even of precious stones.
          Even as a small child Abraham could not understand  how his people , and especially his father ,could make these iamges with their own hands, call them gods and then worship them. He had always refused to join his people when they paid respect to these statues. Instead he would  leave the town and sit alone, thinking about the heavens and the world about him. He was sure his people were doing wrong and so alone he searched for the right way.
         One clear night as he sat staring at the sky he saw a beautiful shining star, so beautiful that he cried: "This must be Allah!" He looked at it in awe for some time, until suddenly it began to fade and then it disappeared . He turned away in disappointment saying:

I love not things that set.

(Qur'an vi. 77)

          On another night Abraham was again looking at the sky and he saw the rising moon, so big and bright that he felt he could almost touch it. He thought to himself.

This is my Lord

(Qur'an vi. 78)

          But it was not before long before the moon set as well . Then he said:

Unless my Lord guides me. I surely shall become one the folk who are astray.

(Qur'an vi. 78)

Abraham then saw the beauty and splendor of the sunrise and recited that the sun must be the biggest and most powerful thing in the universe . Bur for the third time he was wrong, for the sun set at end of the day. It was then realised  that Allah is the Most Powerful, the Creator of the stars, the moon, the sun, the earth and of all living things. Suddenly he felt himself totally at peace, because he knew that he had found the Truth.

• When he said who his father and his folk:
• What was your worhsip?
• They said: We worship idols, and are ever devoted to them.
• He said: Do they hear you when you cry:
• They said: Nay, but we found our fathers acting in this manner.
• He said: See now that which you worship, You and your forefathers!
• Lo! they are (all) enemy to me, except the Lord of the Worlds.
• Who created me, and He guides me, And Who feeds me, and waters me.
• And when I sicken, then He heals me.
• And Who causes me to die, then gives me lfe (again)
• And Who, I ardently hope, will forgive me my sin on the Day of Judgement     (Qur'an xxvi. 70-82)

          One day while all the towns people were out, Abraham angrily smashed all the idols with hi right hand except for the one which was very large . When the people returned they were furious. They remembered the things Abraham had said about the idols. They had him brought forth before everyone demanded, "Is it you who did this to our gods, O Abraham?" Abraham replied, "But this their chief did it. Ask them, if they are able to speak." The exclaimed , "You know they do not speak." "Do you worship what you yourelves have carved when Allah created you and what you make?" Abraham continued, "Do you worship instead of Allah that which cannot profit you at all, nor harm you?"

 (Qur'an xxxvii. 95-6)

 (Qur'an xxi. 66)

          Finally Abraham warned them,

• Serve Allah, and keep you duty unto Him; that is better for you if you did but know.
• You serve instead of Allah only idols, and you only invent a life. Lo! those whom you serve instead of Allah own no provision for you. So seek your provision form Allah, and serve Him, and give thanks unto Him, (for) unto Him you will be brought back/

      (Qur'an xxix. 16-17)

          The people of Ur decided to give Abraham worst punishment the could find: he was to be burnt to death. On the chosen day all the peop;e gathered in the center 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, he coolness and peace for Abraham.

 (Qur'an xxi. 69)

          The people waited until the fire had completely died down, and was the 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 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