Was Abraham a Muslim?

Question:-

Do Muslims consider Abraham to have been a Muslim? If so, were is this sourced (Qur'an, Hadith, etc.)?

Answer:-

The following verses in the Quran establish the position of Abraham in Islam:-

2:124. And remember when his Lord tried Abraham with words, and he fulfilled them, He said, "Verily, I will set you as an Imam (leader, example, guide) for the nations." Said he, "And of my seed also?" Allah said, "My covenant touches not the evildoers."

2:127. And when Abraham raised up the foundations of the House with Ishmael, (with this prayer) "Lord! Receive it from us, verily, you are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

2:128. Lord! Make us Muslims (submissive) unto Thee, and of our seed also a nation of Muslims (resigned), bowing to Thy will, and show us our rites, and turn towards us, verily, Thou art the Oft-Relenting, the Most Merciful.

2:129. "Our Lord! Send them an apostle of their own, to read to them Thy signs and teach them the Scripture and Wisdom, and to purify them; verily, you are the Mighty and the Wise."

2:130. Who is averse from the religion of Abraham save one who is foolish of soul? For We have chosen him in this world, and in the Hereafter he is surely in the ranks of the righteous.

2:131. Behold! His Lord said to him, "Surrender" he said, "I have surrendered unto the Lord of the worlds."

2:132. And Abraham instructed his sons therein, and so did Jacob (saying), "O my sons! Verily, Allah has chosen for you the (true) religion, do not therefore die save as those who have surrendered (as Muslims).

2:135. They say, "Become you Jews or Christians then shall you be guided by Abraham." Say, "Not so! But we follow the religion of Abraham, the upright; he was not of the idolaters."

2:136. Say you "We believe in Allah, and what has been revealed to us, and what has been revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was brought to Moses and Jesus, and what was brought unto the Prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any one of them, and unto Him have we surrendered."

3:33. Verily, Allah has preferred Adam, and Noah, and Abraham's family, and Imran's family above all people.

3:65. O people of the Book, why do you dispute about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed until after him? What! Do you not understand?

3:67. Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian, but he was a "Hanif" (an upright man) who had surrendered, and not of the idolaters.

3:68. Verily, the people who have most claim to (or are nearest of kin to) Abraham are those who follow him, and this prophet, and those who believe: - Allah is the patron of the believers.

3:95. Say, "Allah speaks the truth, then follow the faith of Abraham, a "Hanif" (an upright or righteous man), who was not of the idolaters."

4:125. Who has a better religion than he who surrenders himself to Allah, and does good, and follows the faith of Abraham, the upright? Allah took Abraham as a friend.

6:162. Say, "As for me, my Lord has guided me unto the Straight Way, a right religion, the faith of Abraham, the upright, for he was not of the idolaters."

14:35. And when Abraham said, "My Lord, make this land safe, and turn me and my sons away from serving idols!

14:36. "My Lord, verily, they have led many men astray; but he who follows me, verily, he is of me; but he who rebels against me - still you are Forgiving, Merciful!

16:120. Verily, Abraham was indeed, a model, devoutly obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters:

16:123. Then We inspired you (Muhammad) saying, "Follow the religion of Abraham, as one by nature upright. He was not of the idolaters."

And many other verses.................

A Christian:-

Yes, the Qur'an states very clearly:-

"He hath ordained for you that religion which He commended unto Noah, and that which We inspire in thee (Muhammad), and that which We commended unto Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying: Establish the religion, and be not divided therein. Dreadful for the idolaters is that unto which thou callest them. Allah chooseth for Himself whom He will, and guideth unto Himself him who turneth (toward Him)."

There is only one religion, and in Abraham's language it was called the Hanif religion. But it is the same religion as was given to all the prophets and messengers of God, including Moses and Jesus. Jesus describes this religion very clearly in Matthew 7:21:-

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

'Islam' means both peace and submission. 'Muslim' means one who submits himself. This is the only religion. What day you go to congregation, when you pray and how you fast are details that are between that person and God and as the Qur'an says in Baqarah surah "There is no compulsion in religion." We are not to judge others, but to submit ourselves and love others.

Shura 13 also mentions the key point of how to submit oneself to the Lord's Will. God has promised that any person who wishes to reach Him spiritually before death He "guideth unto Himself". This turning (being 'munib') is the wish to reach God spiritually before death. It must be made with all one's heart. It is also mentioned in the Torah by saying that the greatest persons were those "who sought their Lord's Face with all their heart." Also in Acts of the Apostles 17:27:

God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us. That is the purpose of human life and, because religion gives meaning to human life, it is the cornerstone of the religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed, Peace and Blessings be upon them all. The more that design and wish are followed, the more love flows to the exclusion of all else.

Comment:-

There is truth in what you say, but your comments on the verse you quoted are not wholly accurate. As you can see from the following verses:-

"And, verily, this your religion is one religion, and I am your Lord; so keep your duty unto Me. But they (mankind) have broken their religion (or affair) between them into sects, each sect rejoicing in its own tenets." 23:52-53

"Unto every nation have We given sacred rites which they are to perform; so let them not then dispute about the matter, but summon you unto your Lord; verily, you (Muhammad) indeed follow right guidance." 22:67

"And we never sent a messenger save with the language (or language system or formulation ) of his folk, that he might make the message clear for them." 14:4

"Such of our revelations as We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring in its place one better or the like thereof." 2:106

"Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian, but he was a "Hanif" (an upright man) who had surrendered, and not of the idolaters." 3:67

Note: That the word translated as "Religion" means more than simply a particular set of practices or teachings. But refers to a faith. And it certainly does not refer to teachings and practices that have departed from what the Messengers brought.

"And unto you (Muhammad) have We revealed the Book in truth, verifying what was before it, and preserving it. Judge then between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their lusts (prejudices, fantasies), turning away from what is given to you of the truth. For each of you have We appointed a Law and a traced out Path. Had Allah pleased He would have made you one nation, but that He may try you by that which He has given you. Therefore, vie with one another in virtue. Unto Allah will you all return, and He will then inform you concerning that wherein you dispute." 5:48

Note: That we are required to Judge by what Allah has given us.

"Verily, whether it be of those who believe, or those who are Jews or Christians or Sabaeans, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and acts aright, they have their reward with their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve." 2:62

"Lo, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers, and seek to make distinctions between Allah and His Messengers and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and seek to chose a way in between, such are disbelievers in Truth; and for disbelievers We have prepared a shameful doom." 4:151

"Say, O people of the scriptures, ye have naught of guidance till ye observe the Torah and the Gospels and that which was revealed unto you from your Lord. That which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) from thy Lord is certain to increase the rebelliousness and disbelief of many of them. But grieve not for the disbelieving folk. Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does right, there shall no fear come upon them nor shall they grieve." 5:68-69

"Religion with Allah is the Surrender. those who formerly received the scriptures differed only after knowledge came to them, through transgression among themselves." 3:19

"Surely pure religion is for Allah only, and those who chose protecting friends besides Him say: We worship them only that they might bring us near unto Allah. Lo, Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Allah guides not him who is a liar, an ingrate.. Lo, I am commanded to worship Allah, making religion pure for Him only." 39:3,11

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