Ibrahim, peace be upon him: a Quran story for kids

In an old land beside a great river lived Ibrahim, peace be upon him. His people made statues with their own hands, and then worshipped them.

Ibrahim looked at a star, then at the moon, then at the sun, and saw each of them set. He knew his Lord is the One who created them, and He never sets.

﴿إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًۭا﴾

Al-An'am 6:79

It means: I turn my worship to Allah alone, who created the heavens and the earth.

Ibrahim said to his father and his people:

﴿مَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلتَّمَاثِيلُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنتُمْ لَهَا عَـٰكِفُونَ﴾

Al-Anbya 21:52

It means: What are these statues you keep sitting by and worshipping?

Think: Can a statue of stone hear, or help anyone?

When the people went out, Ibrahim broke all the statues except the biggest one.

﴿فَجَعَلَهُمْ جُذَٰذًا إِلَّا كَبِيرًا لَّهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ يَرْجِعُونَ﴾

Al-Anbya 21:58

It means: He broke them into pieces, except the biggest, so they would come back and ask.

The people knew in their hearts that their statues could not speak, and could not even protect themselves.

The people grew angry. They gathered lots of firewood and lit a huge fire to throw Ibrahim into it.

They threw him into the fire, and Allah said:

﴿قُلْنَا يَـٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًا وَسَلَـٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ﴾

Al-Anbya 21:69

It means: O fire, be cool and safe for Ibrahim.

Ibrahim came out of the fire safe. It did not burn him.

Years later, Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Kaaba in Makkah, stone upon stone, praying:

﴿رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ﴾

Al-Baqarah 2:127

It means: Our Lord, accept this from us. You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

Think: How would you like to help with the House of Allah?

Allah told Ibrahim to call people to Hajj, and people still come to the House of Allah from everywhere.

﴿وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْحَجِّ﴾

Al-Hajj 22:27

It means: And call the people to Hajj.