A little over 4000 years back, in Ur, the capital of Iraq, Mesopotamia, the cradle of human civilisation, was born Ibraheem ironically in the house of the idolator priest Aazar. Iraq was the second cradle of human civilisation after that of Egypt. Unfortunately, mankind had to still see the light of true God-consciousness. Prophet Ibraheem deeply pondered over the existing atmosphere of idol worship and pronounced, ‘I have turned my life towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, I fully dedicate and devote to Him and wholeheartedly reject polytheism.’
First, he had to argue with his father, the chief priest of Iraq, who threatened him and finally threw him out of his house. Next, he was opposed by the ruler of Iraq then Namrud, who claimed that he was avtar or representative of goddess Nanna. Then, as a shock treatment to his misguided people, he shattered to pieces the false gods and goddesses of the central temple of the capital. The king’s council sentenced him to death by burning him in a big fire. God saved him miraculously and he left his country, announcing, “I am going towards my Lord, surely He will guide me aright.”
Only his first wife Sara and his nephew Lut accepted him. Along with these two believers Ibraheem proceeded to Haran in the present-day Türkiye. Subsequently he described his whole life to preach Oneness of God and subservience to Him and Him alone. Due to Prophet Ibraheem’s strenuous struggle countless peoples and nations became believers. It was due to Prophet Ibraheem’s preaching and continuous efforts spread over 175 years of his life that the Unity of God was established in the whole world. Later on, he built the first house of worship dedicated to the worship of One God in Makkah in the heart of Arabia. Besides this, he appointed his second son Ishaque in Kanan, Palestine as his deputy and representative.
Ka’bah was the first House of Worship dedicated to the worship of One and Only God. In the succeeding ages all prophets of Bani Israel and others in different parts of the world called the people of the whole world towards worship of and submission to Almighty God.
At the time of raising the walls of Ka’abah, Prophet Ibraheem sincerely prayed to God to raise a prophet from among the Makkan branch of his progeny to teach the people and purify them and make them the standardbearers of Islam, the prefect system to submission to God. This prayer was fulfilled by Allah in the person and mission of the last and the greatest Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This is the true religion of God which was established, strengthened and promoted by Prophet Ibraheem which was revived by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ 1450 years back.
Today 200 crore Muslims from all over the world are performing Hajj in Makkah and celebrating Eid al-Adha and remembering the great sacrifice of Prophets Ibraheem and Ismail. The world is still groping in the darkness of disbelief, atheism, polytheism and all sorts of deviant practices. On this occasion of Eid, let us join hands, rededicate ourselves to Allah, follow Islam sincerely and perfectly and convey this message by preaching and practising Islam. This is the essence of Islam and the true spirit of the message of the Great Messenger of Allah, Prophet Ibraheem. The world in general, and our country particularly is in great need of Tawhīd and freedom from shirk (polytheism). So God help us.