Noah: Allah in His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker and very patient man. He pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and the balances between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty for our good. The night gives coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and seasons.
He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs only to the Divine Creator. Therefore, he explained to his people, there cannot have been more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop. Noah spoke to them of Allah’s glorification of man, how He had created him and provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete out if they continued in their evil ways (Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir).
PROPHET ABRAHAM
From the communication of Abraham which is recorded in the Qur’ān, we can learn that he has also used rational arguments to his people, to convey his message. There are two situations to prove the same:
A. WITH THE FAMILY
God says in the Qur’ān, “(Mention) when he said to his father, “O my father, why do you worship that which does not hear and does not see and will not benefit you at all?”” (Qur’ān 19:42). God also says in the Qur’ān, “When he said to his father and his people, “What do you worship?” They said, “We worship idols and remain to them devoted.” He said, “Do they hear you when you supplicate? Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?”” (Qur’ān 26:70-73).
This is a communication of Abraham which is recorded in the Qur’ān. The most amazed and furious was his father (or his uncle who had raised him), for as it is well known, he not only worshipped idols but sculpted and sold them as well. Abraham felt that it was his duty as a good son to advise his father with rational arguments against this evil so that he could be saved from Allah’s punishment. Being a wise son, he did not make his father feel foolish, nor did he openly laugh at his conduct. He told him that he loved him, thereby hoping to generate fatherly love. Then he gently asked him why he worshipped lifeless idols who were neither able to hear nor see him, then how could that god benefit him or harm him. This shows that Abraham used a rational approach while speaking with his father.
B. WITH THE PEOPLE
God says in the Qur’ān, “So when the night covered him (with darkness), he saw a star. He said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “I like not those that disappear.” And when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This is my lord.” But when it set, he said, “Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray.” And when he saw the sun rising, he said, “This is my lord; this is greater.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah.” (Qur’ān 6:76-79). God also says in the Qur’ān, “And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship” (Qur’ān 41:37).
In the first and second of these verses Abraham clarified to his people that these celestial bodies do not serve as deities and cannot be worshipped as partners with Allah. Indeed these bodies are created things, fashioned, controlled, managed and made to serve. They appear sometimes and disappear at others, going out of sight from our world. However, Allah does not lose sight of anything, and nothing can be hidden from Him. He is without end, everlasting without disappearance and here is no other deity but Allah.
In the next set of verse, we learn that Abraham made clear to them, first that the celestial bodies are unworthy of worship and second that they are among the signs of Allah. The reasoning of Abraham helped him reveal the truth, and then the conflict between him and his people began for the worshippers of the stars and planets. These verses show that Prophet Abraham gave logical explanation to people as to how the stars, moon and the sun cannot be God.
C. WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
When everyone went to the other side of the river for a grand celebration, Abraham went to the temple with a sharp axe. He then raised his axe and started smashing the false gods worshipped by the people. He destroyed them all except one on whose neck he hung the axe. After this his anger subsides and he felt at peace. He left the temple. He had fulfilled his vow to show his people a practical proof of their foolishness in worshipping something other than Allah.
When the priests returned to the temple from the celebration, they were shocked to see their gods smashed to pieces, lying scattered all over the temple. They began to guess who had done that to their idols and Abraham’s name came to their minds. Then the priests called him and asked him whether he was responsible for breaking the idols. To which Abraham responded saying, “… Rather, this, the largest of them, did it, so ask them if they should (be able to) speak.” (Qur’ān 21:63)
The communication of Abraham which is recorded in the Qur’ān, helps us learn how Abraham adopted a rational approach while conveying the message of Islam to the priests by asking them to ask the biggest idol which was not broken. He told them that he must be the culprit. They replied that he knew well that the idol could not speak or move. They realised the senselessness of their beliefs; however, their arrogance would not allow them to admit their foolishness.
This gave Abraham a chance to prove the foolishness of worshipping these lifeless objects. To which Abraham said, “… Do you worship that which you (yourself) carve, while Allah created you and that which you do.” (Qur’ān 37:95-96) These verses also show us as to how Abraham used a rational argument to tell the priest how they could worship the idols which they have carved themselves.
D. WITH THE RULER
God says in the Qur’ān, “Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord (merely) because God had given him kingship? When Abraham said, “My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death,” he said, “I give life and cause death.” Abraham said, “Indeed, God brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.” So the disbeliever was overwhelmed (by astonishment), and God does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Qur’ān 2:258)
Prophet Abraham confronted with the king of Iraq called Namrud, who also called himself God. After Abraham came out of the fire unharmed, a large part of the society started believing in God and he being a prophet of God. After this the king felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was losing power. Seeing this situation, Namrud wanted to debate with Abraham to show his people that he was God and Abraham was a liar. Namrud asked Abraham: “What can your God do that I cannot?” Abraham replied, “My Lord is He who gives life and death.” Nimrod then shouted, “I give life and death.” He immediately ordered an innocent person to be killed by the royal executioner. Then he freed a prisoner who was on death row. He turned his attention to Abraham and said, “Did you see how I can also give life and death?” Seeing this, Abraham said, “My Lord makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?” Nimrud was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory and in front of his own people. Prophet Abraham left him there speechless and went back to continue his mission. This incident shows how Prophet Abraham used a rational approach while speaking with Namrud.
These instances help us understand that not only Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was a rational person but also other prophets like Prophet Noah and Prophet Abraham was a rational person and he used this rationality to call people to the ultimate truth and achieve his mission.