Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salaam occupy one of the most central place in the Din of Islam. Infact his millat is mentioned as the best in following and Allah honors him by mentioning as “initimate friend (khalil)”.
In the Qur’an we read: wa man ‘ahsanu dinan mimman ‘aslama wajhahu li-llahi wa huwa muhsinun wa ‘ittaba’a millata ‘Ibrahima hanifan wa ‘ittakhadha-llahu ‘Ibrahima khalila.
Who could have a better religion (din) than one who surrenders completely to Allah and is a doer of good, and follows the religion of ‘Ibrahim, a man of pure natural belief? And Allah took ‘Ibrahım as an intimate friend. ~ Suratu-n-Nisaa 4:125
Again and again in the Quran Allah Subhanuwa tala has mentioned different aspects from the life of Ibrahim alayhis salam which are full of teachings for Muslims and by extensions all of the humanity.
wa-‘dhkur fi-l-kitabi ‘ibrihma innahu kana siddiqan-nabiyya
Mention in the Book –’Ibrahim – He was a man of truth, a prophet. ~ Surah Maryam 19:41
As part of the series Ulu-l-Azim, Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee gave dars or teachings on Prophet Ibrahim in great details where not only historical significances are mentioned but how they are still very much alive and playing in our present world, is also unveiled and explained with clarity.
In this teaching Shaykh Nooruddeen also touches upon something which was probably the most revolutionary experience for the inner landscape of Prophet Ibrahim’s alayhis salaams being, which occurred in the desert around the time after he was thrown in the fire and preserved by Allah. Shaykh Nooruddeen conveys the background of this incident with far greater details that traditionally found among the teachings of Islamic scholars.
From the incident of the opening to Allah’s Sign for the case of Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salaam, Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee goes on to explain how in that inner experience there is an important lesson for believers to learn from, which is that one can surely and easily (if one is open to seeing and understanding) grasp the existence of Allah Subhanu wa tala by ‘reading’ the Holy Book of Nature (qur’an takwini). Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee also draws examples from the natural world to show how wondrous are various Signs from the Creator as a way for Him to show us His greatness, awesome creative abilities and His Signs.
Shaykh also teaches on how the apparently ancient Biblical stories still have very profound and living impact in the geo-political as well social fabric of mankind, specially in the on going conflicts in middle east among Israelis and Palestinians.
In teaching given in two parts, Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee answers some of the following important questions:
What it takes to be a pure faithful or believer (mu’min)? What does it take to become a believer in Allah?
Who and Why Ibrahim is the person that he is?
Where is Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salaam is coming from, the historical context borrowed from the most authentic Jewish as well as Islamic sources including the Hebrew Bible and the Qur’an.
Who are all of the children of Ibrahim?
Shaykh in this teaching very categorically reminds the audience not to discard these as old Biblical story as some cynics do, because this very story of the two sons of Ibrahim, Ishmael the first born and Ishaq or Isaac is still driving this world. He points out how these stories have entered into the minds of people for thousands of years and still dominate the world in which we live in.
“All these visits by presidents, heads of states, this commission or that commission are never going to bring peace to the holy land. Only peaceful people will ever bring peace to holy land. The things that is of utmost understanding.”
Concerning the incidents of Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salaam opposing the idol worshiping Shaykh Nooruddeen explains that the attitude of idolatry is still far from being removed, except that they have taken different forms. He explained:
“Characteristically, idolaters attach more importance to other beings than to Allah Subhanuwatala, and they fear them more than they fear Allah. One would be mistaken in limiting the beings valued by these people merely to the statues they carved out of wood or stone.
Loving and valuing another person more than Allah, preferring that person’s contentment over the approval of Allah or fearing that person more than Allah u is also a form of idolatry. There were also those among the people of !Ibr#hım e who loved and prized the skillful products of their own hands more than Allah.
However on the Day of Rising, such people will finally understand that there is no power other than Allah and will see that the idols and beings, not to mention the products of other people’s hands (cars, houses, furniture, jewelry, clothing, etc.), they valued higher than Allah, are merely weak servants before His might and do not actually deserve to be valued at all.”
At the end of the teachings Shaykh Nooruddeen also shares his personal experience and journey into the holy land immediately after the 68 war. He shares his first hand experience of seeing the Holy land and help the audience connect the dots between the various incidents of Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salaam, his sons and situation at modern day.
Through his research Shaykh Nooruddeen mentions the significant incident that when burying their father after his death, both the sons, Ismail and Ishaq came together. Focusing on this historical incident the Shaykh offers guidance and hints towards a possible and hopeful reconciliation between Palestinian natives and Jewish people of Israel.
The book prepared from the teachings is an assembly of some of the most striking facts, truths and teachings on the life of Ibrahim alayhis salaam that you will hardly find anywhere else with such clarity and conciseness.
The Book
You may access the teachings from the Book in full including maps tracing historical routes of the journeys taken by Ibrahim alayhis salaam, rare photographs of ancient sites and old photos of the holy land: