Prophets Stories In Islam

Part 4: The Idolaters Try to Burn Ibrahim (as)

Anger was burning in their hearts. They decided to throw Ibrahim (as) into the biggest fire they could build. A severe fire that no one had experienced on earth and to cast Ibrahim (as) in that fire. All the citizens were ordered to gather wood as a service to their gods. Ignorant, sick women vowed that if they were cured they would donate so much wood to burn Ibrahim (as). For several days they collected fuel. They dug a deep pit, filled it with fire wood and ignited it. They brought a catapult with which to cast Ibrahim into the fire. Ibrahim was put on the catapult, his hands and feet were tied. This specially designed catapult had been invented by a Kurdish man named Heezan. Allah (swt) made the earth swallow him. He will continue to sink in it further and further till the day of resurrection. The fire was ready with its flame reaching the sky. Some narrations says that birds could not even fly from above it. It was too hot, even reached to the skies. The people stood away from the pit because of great heat.
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Now the time of the punishment of Ibrahim came. The fire was so hot that they couldn't go near it. What they did? They pulled Him (as) on a trunk of a palm tree and pulled that tree to the maximum they can and put Him (as) on that tree, that palm tree and then they let it off and Ibrahim (as) was thrown into the fire.
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When Ibrahim (as) was thrown into the fire, Jibraeel (as) came to Ibrahim (as) and said: "O Ibrahim! Do you need any help?"
Ibrahim (as) said: "From you, No, but from Allah, yes!"
This is the heart of Ibrahim (as). So attached with Allah (swt). Even in a moment that even you ask help from anyone and anything. As He (as) was being thrown, He (as) made a dua "Allah is enough for me and He is the best disposer of affairs."
So as He (as) was released, there were stairs created, so He was literally coming down in such a beautiful way into the fire and these people are looking at Him.
As He went in, Allah (swt) says:"O fire! Be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim." (21:69)
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Ad-Dahhak said: It has been narrated that Jibraeel (as) was with Ibrahim (as), wiping off the sweat from his face.
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Similarly it has been said that the fire only made Him suffer from profuse sweating, and nothing else. .
As-Suddi said that the Angel of shadow was with Ibrahim. Thus, He was actually in a green garden, surrounded by the fire. The people could not get to him, and similarly, he could not go out to them. .
Abu Huraira (R.A) said that the best thing uttered by Ibrahim's father, when he saw his son in that condition was: "How good a Lord is your Lord, O Ibrahim!"
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Ibn Asakir reported from Ikrima that Ibrahim's mother looked at Him and called out to him saying: O my son! I want to come to you. Pray to Allah to save me also from the heat of the fire around you.
Ibrahim (as) said: Alright. (and He prayed). His mother, therefore, came to Him without the heat of the fire harming her. When she got there, she embraced and kissed Him, and then returned. .
Minhal Ibn Amr said: I was informed that Ibrahim (as) stayed there for either 40 or 50 days.
He (as) said: No days and nights in my life were as good as when I was in the fire. I wish all the days of my life could be like the ones that I spent in the fire. .
So immediately, if someone is tied up with chains and ropes for the fire to be a means of peace, it had to burn the chains and ropes.
The throng, the chiefs, and the priests, sad watching the fire from a distance. It was burning their faces and nearly suffocating them. It kept burning for such a long time that the disbelievers thought it would never be extinguished. When it did burn out, they were greatly amazed to see Ibrahim (as) coming out of the pit untouched by the fire. Their faces were black from the smoke, but his was bright with the light and grace of Allah (swt). The raging fire had become cool for Ibrahim (as) and had only charred the ropes which held Him. He walked out of the fire as if He were walking out of a garden. Cries of astonishment were heard from the heathens.
"They wanted to harm him, but we made them the worst losers." (21:70)
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After watching this miracle they wouldn't dare to do anything to Ibrahim (as). Who dares to do something to this person?
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He was thrown in a fire that was enough to burn a nation and He came out from it safely. This miracle ashamed the tyrants, but it did not cool the flame of anger in their hearts. However after this event many many of the people followed Ibrahim (as), although some kept their belief a secret for fear of harm or death at the hands of the rulers.
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So one young man gets up and decides, I want to follow you, you are right, these people are wrong. Who was this man? His nephew, Lut (as), Prophet Lut (as), He was not yet a Prophet. He was a young boy, the nephew of Ibrahim (as). He came up and He has seen everything and He had watched it and He decided: I surrender to whoever made me as well.
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Samamah, the slave girl of Fakeeh ibn Mugheerah, said: "I visited Aisha (R.A) and saw a spear laid down in her house.
I asked:"O mother of the Believers, what do you do with this spear?"
Aisha (R.A) replied: "we use it to kill the house lizards because The Prophet (pbuh) informed us, <<When Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, there was no animal on the earth except that it tried to put it out. Only the house lizard tried to flare it up.>> So the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) ordered us to kill it." (Ahmad)